Boater trash, litter can harm wildlife
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Big News Network.com Saturday 2nd July, 2005 (UPI)

As millions of U.S. boaters take to the water this holiday weekend, The Ocean Conservancy says trash in the water can be harmful to fish and wildlife.

Whether you're fishing on the open ocean or simply anchored and relaxing close to shore, remember to take responsibility for keeping those waterways clean, said Charlie Barr, pollution monitoring program manager for The Ocean Conservancy.

Thousands of turtles, fish and seabirds are killed globally every year by ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris, he said, and this can include simple pieces of litter or improperly stowed equipment.

For the last 20 years, The Ocean Conservancy has sponsored the International Coastal Cleanup which has volunteers clean up marine debris and trash along the coastline.