Tomales Bay Triptych – Human Style

This pile of BBQ briquettes, napkins, toilet paper, beer bottles, gloves and other trash was pulled out of Tomales Bay at Grassy Point on the eastern shore on 13 August, 2016

This pile of BBQ briquettes, napkins, toilet paper, beer bottles, gloves and other trash was pulled out of Tomales Bay at Grassy Point on the eastern shore on 13 August, 2016


What are charcoal briquettes made of?

Kingsford Charcoal, for example, by far the most popular brand in the US, is made up of bits of charcoal, coal, starch (as a binder), sawdust, and sodium nitrate (to make it burn better). For the same reason that SPAM is cheaper than a whole ham, briquettes are cheaper to make than all-wood charcoal

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This mess was left near the camping area known as Jack's Beach on the western shore of Tomales Bay. I picked up all the paper and liners. The poo is left for yoo.

This mess was left near the camping area known as Jack’s Beach on the western shore of Tomales Bay. I picked up all the paper and liners. The poo is left for yoo.

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This 5-galloon bucket with seat and sack full of poo inside was found on the northeast shore of Tomales Bay, not far from oyster beds on August, 2016

This 5-galloon bucket with seat and sack full of poo inside was found on the northeast shore of Tomales Bay, not far from oyster beds on August, 2016

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Save our Tomales Bay – Part 32 roadside fishermen trashing Tomales Bay continues

Please click on the words above “Save our Tomales Bay – Part 32 roadside fishermen trashing Tomales Bay continues” to see this entire post.

Two months ago I wrote about the mess left by roadside fisher-people along route 1 near Tony’s Seafood.

Since then the place has been pretty clean, no large bait boxes or smashed beer bottles to speak of, a great improvement.

Last weekend on my way north to document the removal of the unpermitted structures built by oyster farmers in the Bay, I stopped and went after the small, but no less toxic items, cigarette butts and fishing line.

Picked up 346 butts or filters and enough line and hardware to hook a striped bass (I did not say land one).

If you know people that fish in the area, please ask them kindly to be sure and take away all the items they bring with them to enjoy our lovely coastal environment. Leaving it on the shore is disrespectful, illegal and pretty damn rude. Shall we visit their home and dump trash on their cherished spaces? Ok then!

Leaving this mess degrades the very beauty they come for, and causes great harm to the non-human animals that call Tomales Bay home.

This same logic applies to the boat launch area at Miller Park (Nick’s Cove).

There are thousands of pieces of micro-trash left behind by fishermen, boaters and others who use this public space to recreate.

See what happens to small pieces of plastic that humans dump in the sea, or litter the land with, only to be washed to the sea….

Dead Albatross, killed by ingesting plastic -  by Chris Jordan - where disposable lighters end up.

Dead Albatross, killed by ingesting plastic – by Chris Jordan – where disposable lighters end up.

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The dumpster area is routinely besieged by ravens, crows and raccoons who scour the open dumpster for food, then paint the hillside with plastic bags, food wrappers, fish bait etc.

As always, click on an image to see a lager version.

346 cigarette butts, fishing line, beer bottle caps, food wrappers left by fishermen near Tony's Seafood.

346 cigarette butts, fishing line, beer bottle caps, food wrappers left by fishermen near Tony’s Seafood.

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Fishing line left at Nick's Cove boat launch area

Fishing line left at Nick’s Cove boat launch area

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Fishing line left by fishermen near Tony's Seafood along route 1.

Fishing line left by fishermen near Tony’s Seafood along route 1.

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Comfy, though questionable seating installed at Marconi Cove, along with beer can and oyster shucker packaging. C'mon people, pick up after yerselves!

Comfy, though questionable seating installed at Marconi Cove, along with beer can and oyster shucker packaging. C’mon people, pick up after yerselves!

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Next related post may be found here.

Previous related post may be found here.

See the first post in this series “Save our Tomales Bay” here.

Save our Tomales Bay – Part 30 roadside fishermen trashing the shoreline

Click on the words above “Save our Tomales Bay – Part 30 roadside fishermen trashing our shoreline” to see this entire post.

If you hadn’t noticed already, I take umbrage when people mindlessly (or mindfully) leave trash in or around Tomales Bay.

Out of town people (no locals would do this, would they?) like to set up camp alongside route 1 just South of Tony’s Seafood and fish. No problem with that.

But I have a big problem when they leave their beer cans, surgical gloves, bait, bait boxes etc on the rocks, in the water along the road.

If you know who is doing this, please ask them to stop leaving their trash along the bay.

If it keeps happening, these fisher-folk will need to find another place to try their luck.

I’ve twice spoken with a group that comes down from Sebastopol, explaining the situation as I see it. They said they would spread the word, as well as pick up trash they find.

The same goes for the fishing shack further south. If I keep finding that place covered with trash left by fishermen (likely local people), I’ll lobby hard for it to be removed.

If you folks love coming out to enjoy Tomales Bay, then damnit, stop trashing the place! Or you may find the welcome wagons circling and not so welcoming.

The images below show what I recovered from the same two locations just south of Tony’s the past two weekends.

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen - just south of Tony's Seafood. ©Richard James - coastodian.org

Garbage left along Tomales Bay by fishermen – just south of Tony’s Seafood.
©Richard James – coastodian.org

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Next related post may be found here.

Previous related post may be found here.

See the first post in this series “Save our Tomales Bay” here.