NOAA Coordinates California Ocean Litter Strategy Workgroups
MARCH 25, 2024 — On March 14, the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) wrapped up a month of partner-led virtual workgroup meetings to discuss the California Ocean Litter Strategy (OLS). The meetings brought together over 75 partners from across the state and included a diverse set of sectors, including state agencies, nonprofits, private organizations, and academia.
The MDP partnered with the California Ocean Protection Council and California Sea Grant to develop the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy. Twice a year, California’s marine debris action plan partners meet in workgroups to discuss the Strategy’s action progress, and partner updates, and to attend presentations from leaders in California. These bi-annual workgroups provide a venue for regular dialogue and collaboration between organizations supporting actions within the Strategy.
The MDP California Regional Coordinator, Christy Kehoe, provided updates on the MDP regional initiatives, funding opportunities, and updates on the Strategy’s implementation.
Other speakers included the EPA Trash Free Waters Program, California Coastal Commission, Monterey Bay Aquarium, NOAA Marine Debris Program, California Product Stewardship Council, and more. Marine debris is a cross-sector issue that impacts human and wildlife communities across the state of California so engaging partners across so many of those sectors is one of the great successes of the Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy. The next webinar will take place in June 2024.