Did you Know…?
Did you know that derelict fishing, crabbing and lobstering gear comprise a significant portion of the deadly debris in our oceans? “Ghost fishing” refers to the animals that get caught inadvertently in abandoned nets and traps. Here’s a brief video of lobster trap removal efforts in the Long Island Sound.
All Hands on Deck
Now that you’ve watched the video about the Long Island Sound (first article), here’s how to put that work into a larger context.
Dozens of nonprofits, academic institutions and government agencies work collaboratively, day-in and day-out, year after year, on marine debris removal, reduction and prevention in cooperative partnerships at the state and regional levels.
These partners meet regularly to identify the most pressing issues, set goals and objectives and agree to metrics to measure progress. Through grantmaking, MDF supports the organizations doing the work, as well as the gatherings that pull together all the stakeholders on an annual basis to share progress, challenges and best practices. Want to know what the goals are for your state or region? Check out all the Marine Debris Action Plans here: