Marine Debris on Reefs and Banks in the Vicinity of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

This report assesses marine debris in and around the recently expanded Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary by determining the spatial distribution, abundance, and composition of litter. Data were primarily compiled from exploratory dives in mesophotic depths (34–150 m) carried out by a remotely operated vehicle over the course of two decades. A total of 485 debris items were identified and binned into categories based on type. The composition of benthic marine debris reflected the heavy influence of local fishing activities, with derelict fishing gear the predominant debris type in the study area, comprising 63.7% of all litter. Anchoring produced the second largest contribution of benthic debris, representing 18.2% of observations. Marine debris in sensitive benthic habitats contributes to the vulnerability of these ecosystems via ingestion by and entanglement of motile species, and smothering and physical damage to sessile organisms. This report serves as a baseline evaluation of benthic marine debris in the sanctuary and provides a spatial and quantitative assessment that can be used in future efforts to target debris removal and research.

Key Words

marine debris, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, expansion, mesophotic