Tell Congress to Fight Ocean Plastic!-Ocean Champions Action Alert

Your voice needs to be heard, tell your Representative to support the Reauthorization of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act.

As you know, marine debris (plastic and other garbage in our oceans) is a huge and growing problem.  Marine debris is estimated to kill millions of seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year.  In all, 270 ocean species are affected by entanglement or ingestion by the roughly 14 billion pounds of trash that flow into our oceans each year.

Faced with this massive assault on our oceans, is there anything we can do?  Absolutely.

Since 2006, NOAA has been running a Marine Debris Program in partnership with the Coast Guard.  This program uses research, engagement and education to better understand the problem, and to prevent it by changing human behaviors.  The program also ventures out into the ocean to remove existing marine debris, reclaiming destructive fishing gear, and other garbage.

This good program is making a difference, and Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) has introduced a bill to ensure that NOAA and the Coast Guard can continue and expand this important work.

Please contact your Representative and tell them to support H.R. 1171, the Reauthorization of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act.