APRIL 15, 2015--A partial boat, approximately 25’ long, was spotted off the Oregon Coast near Newport on April 9, 2015. OR&R was notified and provided a trajectory showing the partial boat making landfall the next day, south of its reported location.

After invasive species experts inspected the partial boat and determined that it poses a low risk of invasive species contamination, Oregon State agencies opted to intercept the partial boat and tow it to shore rather than risk it possibly making landfall at an area where removal may be challenging and expensive. The agencies contracted for a tow vessel that brought the boat to Newport harbor later that day, where it was sampled, drained, pulled off the water, and subsequently disposed of at a landfill.

The partial boat, part of a vessel estimated at 50 feet long or so, may have been swept away as a result of the tragic tsunami that devastated Japan in March 11, 2011, but it could not be positively confirmed without markings connecting the boat to a port or owner. Some of the species found in the boat could have come from the West Pacific, and on-going investigation should shed more light on their origin.

The quick response by Oregon State agencies, in collaboration with USCG, NOAA, Oregon State University, and Lincoln County, highlighted the need to have an effective mechanism to quickly address marine debris both on and offshore, and that marine debris, regardless of origin, will continue to challenge all coastal regions for many years to come.

For more information contact Nir.Barnea@noaa.gov or check out the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department website.