{"id":2584,"date":"2022-06-06T03:00:31","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T07:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/?p=2584"},"modified":"2023-07-26T13:48:41","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T17:48:41","slug":"is-rope-polluting-our-waterways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/hooklinescience\/is-rope-polluting-our-waterways\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Rope Polluting our Waterways?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Plastic is everywhere \u2014 even in maritime rope.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Recreational boating has grown into one of our nation’s most popular pastimes. Last week, Memorial Day kicked off the summer season for many of the millions of Americans who enjoy our country’s beautiful waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clean water is important to all of us. However, many of our water-based activities can contribute to pollution, adding trash, fuel, and sewage to our coastal waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But most of us don\u2019t consider rope as a potential source of pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plastic is everywhere, and a lot of it ends up in the ocean. Most plastics in the ocean break up into very small particles called “microplastics,” and increasing evidence shows this form of marine pollution can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life. As an emerging field of study, though, not a lot is known about all the sources and fates of microplastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically, maritime rope and netting have been produced from natural resources, such as cotton, flax, or hemp fibers. Following the large-scale increase in plastic production during the 1950s, synthetic gear has progressively replaced its natural counterparts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even synthetic plastic ropes are subject to wear from abrasion and can be susceptible to embrittlement and cracking. This can cause ropes to fragment and form microplastic fibers, which raises concerns about possible marine contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\nResearch Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n