Jul 24 - 8.2 Million Pounds of Marine Debris Taken Out to Trash
The Ocean Conservancy has released its report on last year's International Coastal Cleanup, which contains cumulative marine debris data from 74 countries, Environmental News Service reports. Vacationers and the fishing industry are to face much of the blame for over 4,100 tons of debris.
WASHINGTON, DC, July 24, 2006 (ENS) - The International Coastal Cleanup last year attracted 450,000 volunteers who in a single day removed 8.2 million pounds of debris from 18,000 miles of coasts in 74 different nations, according to a final report on the 2005 Cleanup released by the Ocean Conservancy, organizer of the annual event.
The report on last year's worldwide debris haul issued Thursday marks the start of the countdown to this year's International Coastal Cleanup, scheduled for September 16, 2006.
A change in attitudes toward disposal on beaches and coasts is cited as the most effective approach to reduce litter.
What You Can Do:
- TAKE ACTION against a common oceanic polluter: plastic! Support AB 2449 (Levine) to help reduce plastic bag litter and waste.
- TAKE ACTION to make keep our oceans clean! Support AB 1940 (Koretz), which would implement a state plan addressing marine debris.
- MAKE cleaner decisions to reduce your input to the waste stream with help from CAW's Living Green.