Metal, Vehicles, and Tires

Abstract

Yes, marine debris includes metal. It can float (think tires and their rims) and the items left on the beach range from beer cans to refrigerators. Even a Harley-Davidson motorcycle recently drifted from Japan to Canada. The largest items? Shipwrecks and stranded boats. The worst metal item highlighted in this chapter: tank mines. Of course, if you are lucky you might bag a few of the “Big 10” desirable items such as coins, watches, or jewelry. If you are lucky, you might even uncover gold doubloons from an ancient wreck (you don’t think all those folks scanning the beaches with metal detectors are completely crazy, do you?). You’ll be fairly surprised at the number of “automotive” items that make up marine debris. Where do they come from? Tires, for example, from misguided artificial reef constructions or cheap boat fenders. Partially buried tires, oil barrels, and the like put beach cleanup volunteers to the ultimate test.