Marine Debris Program Project Approved by Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum
AUGUST 3, 2020 — On July 27, the secretariat of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum approved a project submitted jointly by the Marine Debris Program (MDP) and Department of State Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs to help enable governments, researchers, and others to more effectively monitor marine debris.
The project will be led by MDP staff and will engage APEC participants and key global experts to develop a marine debris monitoring decision framework (or guideline document) to assist APEC economies to practically undertake shoreline marine debris monitoring, based on local conditions, capacity, needs, and issues. Understanding the scope, scale, and distribution of marine debris prevalence through marine debris monitoring is critical to informing cost effective policy and management approaches to address the issue.
The MDP works closely with the State Department to represent the U.S. government at the APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group and helps guide work of APEC economies and key stakeholders in the Asia Pacific region to address marine debris. This region includes the largest contributors of mismanaged plastic waste that ends up in the global ocean and is thus an important region considering marine debris. This project work continues the strong partnership between NOAA and the Department of State to address marine debris internationally and to fulfill the mandate of the Save Our Seas Act of 2018.
For more information, please contact Steve.Morrison@noaa.gov.