Glossary
Terms commonly used in conjunction with, and as they pertain to, marine debris and the Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project.
|
A
Abandoned Vessels - lost or discarded ships, boats, or other watercraft. B Bathymetry - the measurement of the depths of oceans, seas, or other large bodies of water. C Contact – An unknown object in the water, located by sonar, can be referred to as a “contact.” See also, “Target” D Derelict Fishing Gear - fishing gear that has been lost or abandoned at some point during use, continuing to float throughout the water column and/or smother crucial habitats such as coral reefs. Degradable - capable of being broken down into smaller pieces by natural forces (aka "biodegradable"). Disposal - the permanent storage or removal of trash from the environment. E Endangered species - a species that is in danger of becoming extinct. Entanglement - the position of being wrapped or twisted within another object such as a net or fishing line. Environmental Unit – This group or unit is part of a response. They work to to ensure that all environmental, historical, and cultural concerns are identified and integrated into the operational plan. F G Ghost Fishing - the capability of lost or discarded fishing gear, such as nets, traps, or fishing line to continue to catch fish, shellfish, or other marine life. GIS – Geographic Information System. H Habitat - the area in which a plant or animal naturally lives, grows and reproduces; that provides adequate food, water, shelter and living space. Hydrography - science which deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of bodies of water and their littoral land areas. I Interagency - among or between governmental or Federal departments. IMS – Interactive Mapping Server. This is a web enabled GIS product that allows a user to interact with a GIS database without purchasing or downloading the GIS software commonly necessary for such tasks. J K L Landfill - a specially engineered site for disposing of solid waste on land that is constructed to reduce any hazards to public health and safety. M Marine debris - 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. N NOAA – National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Organization of which the Office of Coastal Survey, Marine Debris Program, and overarching Office of Response and Restoration are all parts O Offshore Oil Platform - a structure in the ocean that forms a base from which oil drilling is conducted. P Persistent - capable of remaining in the environment for long periods of time without being broken down. Prevention - an effort to hinder stop an event or process. Q R Recycling - the reprocessing of materials to be used again in a similar or different form. S Side Scan Sonar - specialized sonar (SOund NAvigation and Ranging) system for searching and detecting objects on the seafloor. Like other sonars, a side scan transmits sound energy and analyzes the return signal (echo) that has bounced off the seafloor or other objects. Source - a place or activity that generates trash that enters the marine environment. Stormwater runoff - water that flows along streets or the ground as a result of a storm. T Target – Unknown objects in the water, located by sonar, can be referred to as “targets.” Additionally, in some efforts “targets” can be objects located via surface inspection/visual survey. See also “Contact” Threatened species - a species whose numbers are very low or declining, and likely to become endangered if not protected. U U.S.C.G or USCG – United States Coast Guard V W X Y Z |