NOWPAP Marine Litter Workshop

Eben SchwartzMarine Debris Program ManagerCalifornia Coastal Commission

Marine Debris in California

Coastal Cleanup Day engages people to remove trash and debris from California’s beaches and inland

waterways, to identify the sources of the debris, and to change the behaviors that cause pollution.

California Coastal Cleanup Day

California Coastal Cleanup Day

• Data indicated that 80% of marine debris came from land-based sources.

• Cleanup expanded to inland counties and areas that have impacts on the coast.

• Cleanup is now the largest volunteer event in the state.

• Practices put in place to improve the overall impact of the Cleanup.

Marine Debris Education in CaliforniaCoastal Cleanup Day Survey (1,026 responses from 22 counties)

• 58.9% 83.1% (24.2 increase) on causes of marine debris

• 61.2% 77.7% (16.5% increase) on problems resulting from marine debris.

• 94.1% say CCD motivated them to do more to protect the environment.

Other programs include formal education curriculum and outreach to the general public.

Increasing Focus on Plastic Debris

Local and Statewide Regulations

Regional PartnershipsWest Coast

Governors’ Alliance on Ocean Health

Marine Debris Action Coordination Team active since 2008

West Coast Marine Debris Strategy approved, database developed, Marine Debris Coalition in process

Eben SchwartzMarine Debris Program ManagerPublic Education ProgramCalifornia Coastal Commission 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000 San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 904-5210 eben.schwartz@coastal.ca.gov

Photo Credit: 5 Gyres Institute