Families from all over the U.S. are traveling to beaches this summer to relax, splash in the water and soak up the vitamin D. But what many people don’t realize is that this also means an excess in trash because of what some visitors leave behind. How many times have you been swimming and have seen a sandwich baggie floating in the water? Not only does it litter our beautiful shorelines, but it also washes away into the ocean, wreaking havoc on marine life. According to the Ocean Conservancy, ocean trash ranks as one of the most serious pollution problems of our time. Litter such as cigarettes, food wrappers, straws and bottle caps can have a serious effect on marine life, which can accidentally swallow this trash or feed it to their young. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. But there’s good news. We can help prevent ocean debris and litter on our beaches. Here in my Newport, Rhode Island, community, I participate in beach cleanups regularly with a non-profit group called Clean Ocean Access. I’ve found that beach cleanups are a great way to not only do something positive for my city but know that I’m also helping to protect the marine environment as well. We usually spend one to two hours collecting trash off various local beaches, recording our findings for the long-term studies that Clean Ocean Access conducts and then weighing the trash at the end. We’ve found everything from plastic bottles to tires to appliances on our beaches. Balloons, an item frequently pulled from rocks, are a major culprit of harming marine life. They can be swallowed by whales and sea turtles, which, in turn, can clog the animal’s digestive tracts, making it impossible for them to eat normally. Fishing line, buoys, traps and rope are items also found in high numbers that can entangle marine life. Do you love the beach and the ocean? Want to make a difference? Then get involved! There are several ways that you can help prevent marine debris: