Marine Debris Program Releases the Puerto Rico Strategic Plan to Reduce Aquatic Debris
OCT. 16, 2023 — On October 11, the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) released the 2023-2028 Puerto Rico Strategic Plan to Reduce Aquatic Debris (Strategic Plan). This document, available in Spanish and English, is the result of a collaborative effort between the NOAA MDP, the U.S. EPA Region 2 and U.S. EPA Trash Free Waters Program, along with partners across Puerto Rico, including federal, territorial, and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and academia.
The purpose of the Strategic Plan is to act as the framework to reduce the ecological, health and safety, and economic impacts of aquatic and marine debris in Puerto Rico. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the issue of aquatic debris through proactive approaches.
The Strategic Plan has four goals, with 12 objectives. The goals are:
- Goal 1: Prevention
- Goal 2: Removal and Disposal
- Goal 3: Emergency Response
- Goal 4: Coordination
With the vision of reducing debris in aquatic environments in Puerto Rico, this plan will help to guide the implementation of key actions by these various partners and will enhance cross sectoral coordination, public awareness, and behavior change while addressing environmental justice issues.