Shoreline Field Guide

NOAA
Marine Debris
Shoreline Survey
Field Guide
Sarah Opfer, Courtney Arthur, and
Sherry Lippiatt

U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Office of Response and Restoration
Marine Debris Program

January 2012

This shoreline protocol was developed and tested by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. This document is
a revised version of the August 2011 field guide, and should be treated as a draft protocol that may be
altered in the future. Further testing is currently underway to develop a statistically robust survey design
that will recommend the frequency of sampling, number of transects, and sampling unit size at site,
location, and regional spatial scales.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation
for their use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide
1, 2

1, 2

Sarah Opfer, Courtney Arthur, and Sherry Lippiatt

1

I.M. Systems Group, Inc.
3206 Tower Oaks Boulevard
Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20852, USA

2

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Office of Response & Restoration
Marine Debris Program
Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA

January 2012

For copies of this document, please contact:
NOAA Marine Debris Program
Email: MD.monitoring@noaa.gov
Website: www.MarineDebris.noaa.gov

1, 2

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Contents
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 
TYPES OF SHORELINE SURVEYS ....................................................................................................................... 1 
HOW TO PICK YOUR SITE .................................................................................................................................... 2 
BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR SURVEYS ............................................................................................................... 3 
ACCUMULATION SURVEYS .................................................................................................................................. 4 
STANDING‐STOCK SURVEYS............................................................................................................................... 4 
SUBMITTING YOUR SHORELINE DEBRIS DATA TO NOAA ....................................................................... 6 
APPENDIX A: DATA FORMS ................................................................................................................................ 7 
APPENDIX B: SHORELINE WALKING PATTERNS ..................................................................................... 13 
APPENDIX C: RANDOM TRANSECT SELECTION ........................................................................................ 14 

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Introduction
Marine debris has become one of the most widespread pollution problems in the world’s oceans
and waterways today. The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) serves as a centralized marine
debris resource within NOAA, coordinating and supporting activities within NOAA and with
other federal agencies. The MDP uses partnerships to support projects carried out by state and
local agencies, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry.
Marine debris monitoring programs are necessary to compare debris sources, amounts, locations,
movement, and impacts across the US and internationally. Monitoring data can be used to
evaluate the effectiveness of policies to mitigate debris and provide insight into priority targets
for prevention. Thus, the NOAA MDP has developed standardized marine debris shoreline
survey protocols to facilitate regional and site-specific comparisons. This document provides a
standard data sheet and two different methods for shoreline monitoring and assessment.

Types of Shoreline Surveys
The objectives of your study will determine how you monitor for marine debris. There are two
main types of shoreline surveys: accumulation and standing-stock surveys.
 Accumulation studies provide information on the rate of deposition (flux) of debris onto
the shoreline. These studies are more suited to areas that have beach cleanups, as debris is
removed from the entire length of shoreline during each site visit. This type of survey is
more labor-intensive and is used to determine the rate of debris deposition (# of items per
unit area, per unit time). Accumulation studies can also provide information about debris
type and weight. These surveys cannot be used to measure the density of debris on the
shoreline because removal of debris biases the amount of debris present during
subsequent surveys.
 Standing-stock studies provide information on the amount and types of debris on the
shoreline. Debris within discrete transects at the shoreline site is tallied during standingstock surveys. This is a quick assessment of the total load of debris and is used to
determine the density (# of items per unit area) of debris present. Debris density reflects
the long-term balance between debris inputs and removal and is important to
understanding the overall impact of debris.
Table 1. Salient characteristics of standing-stock and accumulation surveys.
CHARACTERISTIC
STANDING-STOCK
Debris removed during surveys?
No
Time required per survey
Less
Length of shoreline site
100 m
Is a set survey interval required (e.g., Yes
once per week or per month)?
Types of data that can be collected
 Debris density
(# of items / unit area)
 Debris material types

ACCUMULATION
Yes
More
100 m or longer
Yes
 Debris deposition rate (# of
items / unit area / unit time)
 Debris material types
 Debris weight

1|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
We suggest that users give careful consideration to which type of survey best suits their goals
and objectives. Table 1 provides important information to take into account when deciding how
to monitor. Once a survey type is chosen, meaningful data can be collected through regular
monitoring. The following sections describe how to choose survey sites and conduct surveys.

How to Pick Your Site
To select your sampling site(s), follow these steps:
1. The first step is to choose an appropriate shoreline location based on the objectives of
your study. For example, if you wish to examine the impact of land use, you should select
locations in watersheds with various land use types. Next, categorize the various areas
within your location (it may help to use an aerial photo or map, as shown below). For
example, your location may cover a span of shoreline 1 km long. Within that 1 km, there
may be an area with heavy recreational use and another area where an urban stream
mouth is located. Identify any barriers to shoreline access or offshore structures that may
affect nearshore circulation (e.g. jetties).

2. Select shoreline sites (where you will sample) according to the characteristics below. If
your location includes different use areas (for example, an area with heavy recreational
use and a more remote area), it is preferable to select a site within each use category.
Shoreline sites should have the following characteristics:
 Sandy beach or pebble shoreline
 Clear, direct, year-round access
 No breakwaters or jetties
 At least 100 m in length parallel to the water (note that standing-stock surveys require a
100-m shoreline site)
 No regular cleanup activities
These characteristics should be met where possible, but can be modified.

2|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Before You Begin Your Surveys
Before any data collection begins, the Shoreline Characterization Sheet should be completed for
each shoreline site. On this data sheet you will note:
 GPS coordinates in decimal degrees at the beginning and end of your shoreline site, or at
the site’s four corners if the width of the beach is > 6 m;
 Shoreline characteristics (e.g. tidal range and substrate); and
 Surrounding land-use characteristics that may influence the delivery of land-based debris
to the site (e.g., farmland 5 km from a small town or urban parkland 50 m from a river
mouth).
The Shoreline Characterization Sheet needs to be completed only once per site per year unless
major changes occur to the shoreline.
Shore IDs (on the Shoreline Characterization Sheet) should be created based on the initials of the
shoreline name (e.g., Fort Smallwood = FS). This will make it easier to keep track of multiple
sampling sites.
The Shoreline Characterization Sheet and Debris Density Data Sheet were adapted from
Cheshire et al. (2009)1.
You will need the following supplies in order to complete your surveys:
 Digital camera
 Hand-held GPS unit
 Extra batteries for GPS and camera (we recommend rechargeable batteries)
 Surveyor’s measuring wheel - for standing-stock surveys only
 Flag markers or stakes
 ~100′ fiberglass measuring tape
 First aid kit (including sunscreen, bug spray, drinking water)
 Work gloves
 Sturdy 12″ ruler
 Clipboards for data sheets
 Data sheets (on waterproof paper)
 Pencils
 Trash bag or bucket - for accumulation surveys only
Safety is a priority. Do not touch or lift potentially hazardous or large, heavy items. Notify your
local officials if such items are encountered.
All of the data collection forms you will need are included in Appendix A at the end of this
document. The same data collection forms are used for accumulation and standing-stock surveys.
 Shoreline Characterization Sheet (pp. 8–9)
 Debris Density Data Sheet (pp. 10–12)

1

Cheshire, A. C., E. Adler, et al. (2009). UNEP/IOC Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter, UNEP Regional
Seas Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission: 132 pp.

3|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Accumulation Surveys
If you decide to conduct accumulation surveys, follow this protocol:
1. BEFORE arriving at the site, check local tide tables and plan to arrive at your site during
low tide.
2. ONCE ARRIVED, begin filling out the Debris Density Data Sheet’s Additional
Information section. Mark the beginning and end of your shoreline site, perhaps with
flags or stakes. (Remember to pick up these markers at the end of your survey to make
sure they do not become marine debris!) The back of the shoreline is where the primary
substrate (e.g., sand) changes (e.g., sand becomes gravel) or at the first barrier (e.g.,
vegetation line).
3. In order to cover the entire site from water’s edge to the back of the shoreline, decide
whether you will traverse the survey area parallel or perpendicular to the water. See
Appendix B for walking pattern schematics. If more than one surveyor is available, the
survey area should be divided evenly with clearly specified areas assigned to each
individual. Surveyors should traverse the survey area in a pre-determined walking pattern
until the entire site is cleared of marine debris.
4. Record on your Debris Density Data Sheet counts of debris items that measure over 2.5
cm, or 1 inch (~bottle cap size), in the longest dimension (see Figure 1). If any part of the
item is within the survey area, count the item. Record large debris items, anything bigger
than 1 foot (~ 0.3 m, typical forearm length from palm to elbow) in the large debris
section of the Debris Density Data Sheet.
5. Take photos of your shoreline site and some of the debris items!
2.5cm

Figure 1. Minimum debris size to be counted. *This size is required to keep surveyors counting the same
size items and to help keep the survey results uniform.

Standing‐stock Surveys
If you decide to conduct standing-stock surveys, follow this protocol:
1. Sketch your 100-m shoreline site and divide the 100 m into 5-m segments. There should
be 20 of them. Number each section (left to right) from 1 to 20. Each 5-m segment should
run from the water’s edge to the back of the shoreline (Figure 2). The back of the
shoreline is where the primary substrate (e.g., sand) changes (e.g., sand becomes gravel)
or at the first barrier (e.g., vegetation line).
2. BEFORE arriving at the site, select four numbers from the Random Number Table
(Appendix C) by first choosing a number between 1 and 5, and then a number between 1
4|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
and 4. The corresponding number in the table (1–20) is one of the four transects you will
survey. Complete this exercise four times to choose four random transects (each transect
can be used only once per survey). These numbers correspond to the 5-m segments you
drew on your sketch and are called transect ID numbers (see Debris Density Data Sheet).
You should fill out one Debris Density Data Sheet per transect. On any sampling day, 20
m of your 100-m shoreline site is analyzed (i.e., 20% coverage of the area). In addition,
check local tide tables and plan to arrive at your site during low tide.

Back of
shoreline

Transect
ID 1
(0-5m)

Transect
ID 4
(15-20m)

Transect
ID 5
(20-25m)

-5m-

-5m-

-5m-

Transect
ID 16
(75-80m)

…

-5m-

Low tide

Figure 2. Shoreline section (100 m) displaying perpendicular transects from water’s
edge at low tide to the first barrier at the back of the shoreline section.

3. ONCE ARRIVED, begin filling out the Debris Density Data Sheet Additional
Information section. Using your measuring wheel, begin at the start of your shoreline
section and mark the four selected transect boundaries with flags according to the
distances provided in the Transect ID table (for example, transect 12 covers 55 to 60 m
from the start of your shoreline section).
4. Measure the width of each transect from water’s edge to the back of the shoreline. Record
GPS coordinates for each transect in decimal degree format. For shoreline segments that
are less than 6 m wide from the water’s edge to the back of the shoreline, GPS
coordinates should be taken at the center (Figure 3). For shoreline segments that are over
6 m wide, take GPS coordinates at two spots—one nearer the back of the shoreline and
one nearer the water.
5. Walking each transect from water’s edge to the back of the shoreline, record on your
Debris Density Data Sheet counts of debris items that measure over 2.5 cm, or 1 inch
(~bottle cap size), in the longest dimension (see Figure 1). If any part of the item is
within the sample transect, count the item. Remember that for standing-stock surveys,
debris is not removed from the shoreline. Record large debris items, anything bigger than
1 foot (~ 0.3 m, typical forearm length from palm to elbow) in the large debris section of
the Debris Density Data Sheet.

5|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012

Back of
shoreline
Transect
ID 1
(0-5m)

-5m-

Transect
ID 10
(45-50m)

Transect
ID 11
(50-55m)

-5m-

-5m-

Transect
ID 20
(95-100m)

-5m-

Low tide

100m
Figure 3. Example of a shoreline section (100m) with yellow circles indicating
marked GPS coordinates. Width determines location of GPS coordinates.

6. Take photos of each transect and some of the debris items!

Submitting Your Shoreline Debris Data to NOAA

Marine debris monitoring groups should plan to compile and analyze their own survey
results. The NOAA MDP will have periodic calls for data from monitoring groups. If you
would like more information on data analysis or to be included in data calls, please send an
email to MD.monitoring@noaa.gov.

6|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012

Appendix A: Data Forms

7|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012

SHORELINE DEBRIS
Shoreline
Characterization Sheet
Complete this form ONCE
for each site location
SAMPLING AREA
Shore ID

Phone number

Name of organization
responsible for collecting the
data
Name of person responsible for
filling in this sheet
Phone contact for surveyor

Date

Date of this survey

Organization
Surveyor name

Unique code for the shoreline
Name by which the section of
shoreline is known (e.g., beach
name, park)
State and county where your
site is located

Shoreline name
State/County
Latitude

Longitude

Recorded as XXX.XXXX
(decimal degrees) at start of
shoreline section (in both
corners if width > 6 meters)

Latitude

Longitude

Recorded as XXX.XXXX
(decimal degrees) at end of
shoreline section (in both
corners if width > 6 meters)
The digital identification
number(s) of photos taken of
shoreline section

Coordinates at start of
shoreline section
Coordinates at end of
shoreline section
Photo number/ID

SHORELINE CHARACTERISTICS – from beginning of shoreline site
Length of sample area
Length measured along the
midpoint of the shoreline (in
(should be 100 m if
meters)
standing-stock survey)
Substratum type
Substrate uniformity
Tidal range

Tidal distance

Back of shoreline
Aspect

For example, a sandy or gravel
beach
Percent coverage of the main
substrate type (%)
Maximum & minimum vertical
tidal range. Use tide chart
(usually in feet).
Horizontal distance (in meters)
from low- to high-tide line.
Measure on beach at low and
high tides or estimate based on
wrack lines.
Describe landward limit (e.g.,
vegetation, rock wall, cliff,
dunes, parking lot)
Direction you are facing when
you look out at the water (e.g.,
northeast)

8|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
LAND-USE CHARACTERISTICS – within shoreline location
Urban
Select one and indicate major
Location & major usage
Suburban
usage (e.g., recreation, boat
access, remote)
Rural
Vehicular (you can drive to
your site), pedestrian (must
Access
walk), isolated (need a boat
or plane)
Nearest town
Name of nearest town
Distance to nearest town
Nearest town distance
(miles)
Direction to nearest town
Nearest town direction
(cardinal direction)
If applicable, name of nearest
river or stream. If blank,
Nearest river name
assumed to mean no inputs
nearby
Distance to nearest
Nearest river distance
river/stream (km)
Direction to nearest
Nearest river direction
river/stream (cardinal
direction from site)
Whether nearest river/stream
River/creek input to beach
YES
NO
has an outlet within this
shoreline section
If there is a storm drain or
Pipe or drain input
YES
NO
channelized outlet within
shoreline section
Notes (including description, landmarks, fishing activity, etc.):

9|Page

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Name of organization
responsible for data collection
Name of person responsible for
filling in this sheet
Phone contact for surveyor

Organization
SHORELINE DEBRIS
Debris Density Data Sheet

Surveyor name
Phone number
Email address

Complete this form during
EACH survey or transect (if
standing-stock) per site visit Date
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Shoreline name
Survey Type
Transect ID # (N/A if
accumulation survey)
Coordinates of start of
shoreline site

Coordinates of end of
shoreline site

Email contact for surveyor
Date of this survey

Accumulation

Standing-stock

Latitude

Longitude

Latitude

Longitude

Start

End

Width of beach
Time start/end
Season
Date of last survey
Storm activity

Current weather
Number of persons
Large items
Photo ID #s

YES

NO

Name for section of shoreline
(e.g., beach name, park)
Type of shoreline survey
conducted (check box)
Transect ID (include shoreline
ID, date, and transect #)
Recorded as XXX.XXXX
(decimal degrees). Record in
both corners if width > 6 m. If
transect, record at water’s edge.
Recorded as XXX.XXXX
(decimal degrees). Record in
both corners if width > 6 m. If
transect, record at back of
shoreline.
Width of beach at time of
survey from water’s edge to
back of shoreline (meters)
Time at the beginning and end
of the survey
Spring, summer, fall, winter,
tropical wet, etc.
Date on which the last survey
was conducted
Describe significant storm
activity within the previous
week (date(s), high winds, etc.)
Describe weather on sampling
day, including wind speed and
% cloud coverage
Number of persons conducting
the survey
Did you note large items in the
large debris section?
The digital identification
number(s) of debris photos
taken during this survey.

10 | P a g e

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Notes: Evidence of cleanup, sampling issues, etc.

DEBRIS DATA: (continued on back)
ITEM
Plastic fragments

TOTAL

TALLY (e.g., IIII)
PLASTIC

Hard

Foamed

Film

Food wrappers
Beverage bottles
Other jugs or containers
Bottle or container caps
Cigar tips
Cigarettes
Disposable cigarette lighters
6-pack rings
Bags
Plastic rope/small net pieces
Buoys & floats
Fishing lures & line
Cups (including
polystyrene/foamed plastic)
Plastic utensils
Straws
Balloons
Personal care products
Other:
METAL
Aluminum/tin cans
Aerosol cans
Metal fragments
Other:
GLASS
Beverage bottles
Jars
Glass fragments
Other:
11 | P a g e

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
ITEM

TALLY (e.g., IIII)
RUBBER

TOTAL

Flip-flops
Gloves
Tires
Rubber fragments
Other:
PROCESSED LUMBER
Cardboard cartons
Paper and cardboard
Paper bags
Lumber/building material
Other:
CLOTH/FABRIC
Clothing & shoes
Gloves (non-rubber)
Towels/rags
Rope/net pieces (non-nylon)
Fabric pieces
Other:
OTHER/UNCLASSIFIABLE

Item type
(vessel, net, etc.)

LARGE DEBRIS ITEMS (> 1 foot or ~ 0.3 m)
Status (sunken, Approximate Approximate Description / photo ID #
stranded, buried)
width (m)
length (m)

Notes on debris items, description of “Other/unclassifiable” items, etc:

12 | P a g e

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012
Appendix B: Shoreline Walking Patterns
The schematics below are potential survey walking patterns to ensure that the entire shoreline
site or transect is covered. Suggested distance between walking lines is approximately one meter.

13 | P a g e

NOAA Marine Debris Shoreline Survey Field Guide 2012

APPENDIX C: RANDOM TRANSECT SELECTION
If you are conducting a standing-stock survey, use these tables to select transects. BEFORE
arriving at the site, select four numbers from the Random Number Table, by first choosing a
number between 1 and 5, and then a number between 1 and 4. The corresponding number in the
table (1–20) is one of the four transects you will survey. Complete this exercise four times to
choose four random transects (each transect can be used only once per survey).

1
2
3
4

1
4
7
18
3

Random Number Table
2
3
4
8
17
9
19
2
12
14
6
16
5
15
10

5
1
20
11
13

Transect ID and distance along shore from start of 100-m shoreline section
(see Figure 2 above)
Transect
ID
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Meters

Feet and inches

0–5 m
5–10 m
10–15 m
15–20 m
20–25 m
25–30 m
30–35 m
35–40 m
40–45 m
45–50 m
50–55 m
55–60 m
60–65 m
65–70 m
70–75 m
75–80 m
80–85 m
85–90 m
90–95 m
95–100 m

0–16' 4"
16'4"–32'9"
32'9"–49'2"
49'2"–65'7"
65'7"–82'
82'–98'5"
98'5"–114'9"
114'9"–131'2"
131'2"–147'7"
147'7"–164'
164'–180'5"
180'5"–196'10"
196'10"–213'3"
213'3"–229'7"
229'7"–246'
246'–262'5"
262'5"–278'10"
278'5"–295'3"
295'3"–311'8"
311'8" - 328'1"
14 | P a g e

United States Department of Commerce
John Bryson
Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D.
Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Ocean Service
David Kennedy
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and
Coastal Zone Management