The inaugural board of the Marine Debris Foundation will join the fight to keep oceans and the Great Lakes free of marine debris.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration picked the members for their passion and commitment to tackling one of the most widespread pollution problems facing U.S. waterways, according to an April 6 release.
“We look forward to working with the new Marine Debris Foundation to enhance NOAA’s efforts to assess, prevent, reduce and remove marine debris,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, who also serves as a member of the board. “Together, we can do even more to address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the economy of the United States, the marine environment and navigation safety,” the release reported.
Huge amounts of discarded items such as abandoned fishing gear and vessels, plastics, paper, metals, rubber, textiles and other lost or discarded items enter the waterways daily, according to the release.
The Save Our Seas 2.0 Act set the criteria for a board appointment. The members will serve 2-6 years and represent a diverse range of experience and perspectives on marine debris, according to the release. The act created the charitable and nonprofit foundation. The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere was required to appoint its inaugural governing board, the release reported.
