Oregon Marine Debris Action Plan
Spring 2017 Update
As of April, the Oregon Marine Debris Action Plan is complete. Its development, from first workshop to final publication, took less than year - a lot of progress in a short amount of time. This bi-annual update is the Action Plan's first. It summarizes recent Oregon activities and provides additional information on broader marine debris topics. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this update. I encourage you to share more progress for the fall issue by October 20, 2017. I also welcome your feedback to improve these updates.
Nir Barnea
Rapid Response Cleanups Target Seasonal Increases in Marine Debris
This winter and spring, Surfrider Foundation chapters along the coast conducted eight "rapid response" cleanups, responding to Oregon Parks and Recreation Department requests for marine debris removal support. Rapid response cleanups are a way to address episodic and seasonal increases in marine debris, particularly in sensitive habitats and on more remote beaches. Check our website for information and photos from the March rapid response cleanups..
Oregon SOLVE Spring Cleanup
Joy Hawkins, joy@solveoregon.org
In celebration of Earth Month, SOLVE supported 120 statewide litter cleanup projects. Nearly 8,000 volunteers participated in the Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup and SOLVE It for Earth Day events in April, removing an estimated 66 tons of trash. Of the 120 projects, 55 took place in coastal communities and along beaches. The Port to Port Yaquina River Cleanup in Newport was particularly successful with 14 volunteers removing 2,000 pounds of trash from the river and bay. These events would not have been possible without the hard work of dedicated volunteers, leaders, and community partners.
High Water Spurs Backwater Exploration and Marine Debris Clean Up
Chris Hathaway, chathaway@estuarypartnership.org
When Columbia River water levels get high, so do water levels in Scappoose Bay, a natural inlet from the Columbia at river mile 89. Water backs up into the bay and inundates land between it and Multnomah Channel, creating unique paddling areas through the flooding.
Larry Fisher, an avid paddler, saw an array of marine debris in the bay: a derelict dock, Styrofoam blocks, and tires, and decided to take action. He rallied kayakers through a local listserv, got a trailer donated from the Port of St. Helens, and on April 9th, he and four friends paddled into the bay. They spent three hours gathering debris including large Styrofoam blocks, 14 tires, and bundles of carpet, before carrying it all back to the marina. Unfortunately, Larry reports that there is a lot more marine debris out there. The Estuary Partnership is looking for funding and partners to help.
Oregon Marine Debris Reveals New Species
Charlie Plybon, cplybon@surfrider.org
We have all heard that the ocean has a lot left to discover. While some scientists travel to the distant ends and depths of our ocean to reach new discoveries, others, like Gayle Hansen of Oregon State University, wait for the discoveries to come to them. Dr. Hansen noticed something unfamiliar in the marine debris that volunteers from Surfrider's Newport and Florence chapters brought to her lab. It was an unusual specimen - a pink encrusting algae - that, upon full inspection, was a never-before described species. The new species, aptly named Tsunamia transpacifica, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Algae in mid-December. More information and photos of this discovery are on our website.
CoastWatch 2017 Update
Fawn Custer, Fawn@Oregonshores.org
The Washed Ashore Integrated Arts Marine Debris Curriculum is now Available!
Nir Barnea, nir.barnea@noaa.gov
In the last three years, Washed Ashore, with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, has worked on a curriculum that uses art for marine debris education and prevention.
Based in Bandon, Washed Ashore conducted numerous teachers' workshops in Oregon and nationwide, while exhibiting large, stunning statues made from marine debris. During the workshops, Washed Ashore trained nearly 400 teachers on their curriculum and solicited feedback to improve it. After piloting the curriculum in the Bandon school district, it is now finalized and available online.
SOLVE Adopt-A-Beach Pilot Project
Joy Hawkins, joy@solveoregon.org
SOLVE, in partnership with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, is moving forward on one of the Oregon Marine Debris Action Plan's future actions: "Implement a coast-wide Oregon Adopt-A-Beach Program". We have received funding support from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to launch an Adopt-a-Beach pilot phase targeting Clatsop and Tillamook counties. SOLVE will be meeting with partners throughout the summer with a goal of establishing five initial adoption sites by December 2017. Please contact us if you would like to be involved!
Oregon Marine Debris Community Comes Together for a Research Priorities Workshop
Matthew Coomer, Matt.Coomer@noaa.gov
On May 30th, twenty-four researchers and practitioners came together for Oregon's first Marine Debris Research Prioritization Workshop at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
The workshop, sponsored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, and the EPA, built upon the Oregon Marine Debris Action Plan through discussing research needs to help address marine debris issues in the state.
During the workshop, forum discussions and small group activities encouraged spirited conversations and information sharing, and culminated in participants ranking the vetted research topics. The workshop proceedings will be released in July.
The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) will be held in San Diego, California, USA from March 12-16, 2018. The 6IMDC is an opportunity to energize international coordination efforts within the marine debris community. It will build upon the partnerships and successes of the Honolulu Strategy which was developed at the last conference in 2011. With a variety of tracks, themes, and session types, the 6IMDC will promote new partnerships, further raise public awareness and support, and inspire new actions that will take us closer to a world free from the impacts of marine debris.
Please visit the 6IMDC website to learn more information about the event and to sign-up for updates.
If you have any questions, email info@6IMDC.org
MARE Marine Debris Webinars
NOAA Marine Debris Program
Email: nir.barnea@noaa.gov
Website: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
Phone: 206-526-6943
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOAAMarineDebris
Twitter: @NOAADebris