The State of Oregon, in a press conference held today, officially rolled out the state's response plan for working with and dealing with the increased amounts of marine debris due to the devastating tsunami event last March 2011 in Japan. In response to what is becoming an unprecedented amount of marine debris in Oregon, Surfrider Foundation staff and volunteers have emerged as a leader amongst other partners SOLVE, CoastWatch, Oregon Sea Grant and Washed Ashore, in forming a plan and a coordinated effort through our collaborative group, The Marine Debris Partnership. Our partnership is working in an effort to engage volunteer and citizen response in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies in marine debris removal projects that are too big for the agencies to handle, yet safe enough for citizens and volunteers to take on.
