Wildlife Viewing - With Your Child - Clean up the Beach for Dolphins

drawing of family With Your Child

Clean up the Beach for Dolphins

A major threat to dolphin survival is marine debris. Dolphins will eat pieces of plastic sheeting they mistake for jellyfish and other prey. Young ones, especially, can strangle on ingested plastic. Dolphins may also become entangled in recreational fishing line or plastic strapping, which can drown them, or wrap around and amputate their appendages.

Boaters and beach goers have a special responsibility to prevent trash from being discarded into the ocean. Trash should be placed either in marked receptacles near loading docks and/or public beach containers. If receptacles are not available, all trash should be taken home and disposed of properly. Anglers should dispose of fishing line properly, make sure it does not get discarded overboard, and make sure it is in good shape as well, to lessen the chances of it breaking. We should all take responsibility to pick up trash of any kind that has been carelessly discarded in the ocean.

When you visit a beach, take along a large garbage bag. If you explain how litter harms dolphins and other sea life, your child will be eager to spend time with you picking up trash.