IPRC Marine Debris Project

Have YOU seen unusual marine debris? Get involved in ongoing oceanographic research and report your finding to us! Send us information about your sighting to [email protected], along with pictures if possible.

Make sure to sign up for our upcoming workshop at the 6th International Marine Debris Conference (http://www.6imdc.org/) in Honolulu, October 14-17, 2013!

WORKSHOP ON MARINE DEBRIS OBSERVING SYSTEM

Solutions to the marine debris problem are hard to come by because of huge information gaps and a lack of tools to monitor debris. The sources of marine debris from land and from sea, and its paths in the ocean, are poorly known and hard to quantify. Marine debris is heterogeneous, and different objects respond differently to the same currents, waves, and winds. Much debris becomes visible only upon arrival on shore. All of these problems have become especially apparent and urgent after the tragic 2011 tsunami in Japan, which within a few hours released unprecedented amounts of driftage, including hazardous materials, in a relatively small area. Despite the public urgency and efforts of national and international agencies, the current status of the tsunami marine debris remains uncertain. In this workshop, we will discuss the state of knowledge of the amount, composition, pathways, and life cycle of marine debris. We will highlight findings using new instruments and improved observations, findings that justify the compelling need for a global network of data exchange and consolidation. Moreover, we will discuss the need to reduce our knowledge gaps and to make the best use of our resources by synthesizing observations and operations with scientific models.

http://www.6imdc.org/in