The state of California has many tourist spots that catch the eyes of residents and visitors. One particular spot that receives a lot of attention is Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. The beach spans 38 acres, featuring beautiful scenery and pieces of smooth glass. The glass is washed up after decades of transformation from discarded items. While this location is a gem and a favorite coastline spot to many, it is in danger of losing some of its beauty. 

According to the International Sea Glass Association, there is a sea glass shortage at several beaches. Reasons for the shortage include stricter regulations about dumping at sea, a decline in glass bottles, an increase of glass collectors and climate change. 

The stricter regulations prohibit dumping of any form of garbage within specified distances from the shore, violators can be fined up to $50,000 and/or face imprisonment for up to five years, according to California State Water Resources Control Board. The regulations help protect our ocean life and reduce the amount of glass entering the oceans. 

There has also been an increase in sea glass collectors and artists removing the glass from beaches. The act of stealing from the beach is illegal in California and violators can face a penalty of $1,000 along with possible criminal charges. 

In addition to being illegal, collecting the glass is also harmful to the environment.  Moving sand, glass or rocks can disturb or damage shelters for invertebrates like crabs, worms and other organisms, according to Biology Insights. 

Sea glass is a part of the ecosystem and takes decades to form from glass items. While it is beautiful to admire and has the potential to help create various forms of art, it should be left on the beach. Humanity has a reputation of ruining the environment and being greedy with resources that are not ours. If you visit a beach with sea glass, admire its beauty and leave it in the sand to help preserve a resource that is becoming scarce.