On Thursday February 8, 2007 the California Ocean Protection
Council (OPC) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that will reduce the
amount of plastic pollution that is floating in the ocean and washing up on California beaches.
Recent reports have documented the trouble our oceans are
in. Abandoned plastic fishing gear and other plastic pollution kill more than 1
million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles every year. In
addition, plastic pollution is washing up beaches around the world. California’s beach
economy brings in over $40 billion annually.
“We are pleased that the California Ocean Protection Council
has decided to focus their attention on marine debris,” said Dan Jacobson, legislative
director for Environment California. “Action is needed and we applaud the
council for their aggressive plan.”
According
to the California Ocean Protection Council, The resolution identifies six
priority solutions to the marine debris issue from the June 2006 Plastic Debris
Project Action Plan (download their news release at the bottom of the page). The six priorities include:
- Reducing the
sources of marine debris by extending the California Redemption Value from
bottles and cans to plastics commonly found in the ocean;
- Increasing the
enforcement of anti-litter laws and enforcement of water quality laws to eliminate
plastic pellet pollution;
- Identifying
innovative ways to reduce plastic waste;
- Expanding
watershed clean-up efforts; and
- Increasing the
availability of cigarette butt and recycling containers and trash cans at
public places and schools statewide.
“Marine
debris is one of the worst problems our oceans face,” said Secretary for
Resources and OPC Chairman Mike Chrisman. “Passage of this OPC resolution will
go a long way to help us promote reducing plastic waste and marine debris in
the ocean.”
State
legislators will follow the lead the OCP has taken with a “flotilla” of
legislation that will work to reduce ocean pollution.
