2020 Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan Released

Posted Wed, 01/22/2020 - 08:24

Cover of the 2020 Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan.The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is pleased to share the 2020-2025 Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan. This document is the result of a collaborative effort between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and partners in Ontario, Canada and eight U.S. states (IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, OH, PA, WI), and represents a partner-led effort to guide marine debris actions in the Great Lakes for the next five years. 

Throughout the Great Lakes, numerous organizations work to address marine debris through education, prevention, removal, and research efforts. The Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan (Action Plan) establishes a comprehensive framework for strategic action to ensure the Great Lakes and its coasts, people, and wildlife are free from the impacts of marine debris. 

The Action Plan has four Goals, further defined by objectives and specific actions:

  • Goal 1: The research and monitoring of marine debris addresses knowledge gaps and informs action.
  • Goal 2: A science-based and strategic approach is used to guide marine debris policy and management decisions in the Great Lakes.
  • Goal 3: Marine debris is prevented and reduced through an educated and involved community.
  • Goal 4: The marine debris that reaches the Great Lakes environment is removed to minimize adverse impacts.

Using feedback from the previous 2014-2019 Action Plan, the MDP solicited stakeholder input to the Action Plan through a workshop. Following the workshop, the draft Action Plan was distributed to both attendees and the wider Great Lakes marine debris community for additional feedback and to provide further opportunity to volunteer to participate in action strategies. Thirty-nine partners committed to a total of 47 actions. 

The Action Plan encompasses work that will be undertaken in the next five years (2020-2025), and the plan will be re-evaluated and updated in a mid-year review.  

The MDP greatly appreciates this collaborative effort. For more information, please contact Sarah Lowe (Sarah.Lowe@noaa.gov).

2020 Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan Released

Posted Wed, 01/22/2020 - 08:24

For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

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Andrea K

Thu, 01/23/2020 - 17:44

I live on Catawba Is, Ohio where I was born and raised and am interested in all facets of this action plan. Please keep me posted about opportunities to help preserve, protect and educate others about marine debris. Solution, strategy and action.

Hi Andrea,

Thanks for reaching out about the Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan. To stay connected in your region, check out the Great Lakes Regional page https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/great-lakes. It highlights events, activities, and news that pertains to your area. You can also subscribe to the MDP Newsletter (https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/) issued once a month, as a way to stay on top of all NOAA Marine Debris Program news.