Marine debris is any man-made object discarded, disposed of, or abandoned that enters the coastal or marine environment. It may enter directly from a ship, or indirectly when washed out to sea via rivers, streams and storm drains. Marine debris has many negative impacts. Medical waste and toxics in marine debris pose a direct threat to human health 
and safety. Wildlife such as turtles and birds that ingest marine debris can become sick or die. Wildlife that gets entangled in marine debris can suffer injury or die. Marine debris is an unattractive eyesore along beaches and shorelines.
On Saturday, September 25th, the Caribbean Maritime Educational Center, Inc. (CAMARED) participated in the International Coastal Cleanup. Some 15,000 volunteers pitched in to clean up more than 300 beaches, rivers, lakes and coastal areas around Puerto Rico.
In the Guánica Bay watershed, CAMARED volunteers picked up trash, including cigarette butts, food wrappers, cans, and bottles from the Rio Loco River and Guánica Bay shoreline (Contact: Madeleine Cancel, camaredpr@live.com).