~y o u n g mariners 



Getting Out of a Bind 



Billions of pounds of plastics find 

 their way into the aquatic and marine 

 environment each year. The sources 

 are many — from ships on 

 the water to beach-goers 

 along the shore. 



The durability of plastic 

 has boosted its popularity. 

 But that staying power has 

 caused countless deaths of 

 coastal critters and aquatic 

 animals around the world. 

 Stray six-pack rings, plastic 

 fishing line and other litter 

 can bring untold suffering to 

 the wildlife community. 



Humans are able to use 

 their hands and fingers to 

 get out of a simple bind. Or 

 we can ask for help from 

 our friends and family. But 

 animals are helpless when it 

 comes to escaping entangle- 

 ment in waterway litter. 



Here's a little exercise to 

 help you understand the 

 problem. 



Pair up with a friend, 

 family member or teacher 

 and follow this procedure: 



Have your partner put a 

 rubber band around the 

 back of your hand, catching 

 the thumb and little forefin- 

 ger. Try to remove the 

 rubber band without using 

 the free hand or your teeth 

 or by rubbing it against 

 something. 



For a variation, pretend 

 your hand and arm is a 

 goose entangled in plastic. 

 For example, your hand is 

 the goose's head, your fingers its 

 beak and your forearm its neck. Cup 

 your elbow with your free hand. 

 Have your partner wind the rubber 



band around the goose's "beak" or 

 around its "neck." Allow yourself 

 only 30 seconds to get free. 



Imagine the animals that don't 

 get free and starve, strangle or 

 suffocate. 



You can make a 

 commitment to help keep 

 our oceans, lakes and rivers 

 clean. Be a role model for 

 others. Never throw your 

 trash into the water. And 

 spread the message to 

 others. 



s . . * * *~ ' S *Z - ~ 



Now trade places with your 

 partner and repeat the activities. 



Were you successful at untan- 

 gling yourself? 



Questions For 

 Thought 



1. What plastics or other 

 material could the rubber 

 band represent in an aquatic 

 setting? 



2. How could an animal get 

 into a situation in which 

 plastics would entangle it? 



3. What can you do to 

 prevent animal entangle- 

 ment? 



Adapted from Ripples: A 

 Big Sweep Elementary 

 Activity Guide. To order, 

 send $1 for postage and 

 handling to Sea Grant, Box 

 8605, N.C. State University, 

 Raleigh, NC 27695. 



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