Virtual Seminar Highlights Statewide Coordination on Preventing Marine Debris
JUNE 26, 2023 — On June 13, the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) coordinated and presented at the bi-annual California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy webinar. The webinar brought together over 60 partners across the state and included a diverse set of sectors including state agencies, nonprofits, policy-makers, and academia.
The MDP partnered with the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to develop the Ocean Litter Strategy. The Strategy acts as a key document for the OPC Marine Pollution Program’s work on ocean litter and plastic pollution. Twice a year, California’s marine debris action plan partners host a webinar to promote information-sharing and to hear from leading experts in California who are addressing marine debris. The two-hour webinar aimed to provide updates from the Ocean Litter Strategy implementation and monitoring process, strengthen the community, foster relationship-building, and promote networking across the state.
MDP California Regional Coordinator Christy Kehoe organized the webinar alongside OPC. She presented the history of the strategy and provided updates on MDP and federal initiatives, including new grantees in California, Biden-Harris Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, and other NOAA opportunities. Additional speakers from various local, regional, and national partners provided updates on actions and related projects. The next webinar will take place in the fall of 2023.