Alaska Community-based Marine Debris Clean-up and Prevention Activities

CHALLENGE GRANTS AWARDED. We awarded $15,500 in Challenge Grant funds in December, 2006, to 11 community groups and tribal organizations in Homer, Seldovia, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna, Kodiak, Haines, and Unalaska. The groups will conduct beach and river clean-ups in 2007. The grants supported travel to the Alaska Coastal Stewardship Conference in Homer in February, 2007.

ALASKA COASTAL STEWARDSHIP WORKSHOP FOCUS. Marine debris issues were a key focus of the Alaska Coastal Stewardship workshop in Homer, February 16-18, 2007. A CD-ROM is available from CACS with workshop presentations and contact information for participants and presenters.

NEW PREVENTION MATERIALS AVAILABLE. Cook Inletkeeper has reprinted a Clean Boating poster with additional emphasis on the prevention of dumping marine debris. They are distributing thousands of free copies of the poster and a 2007 Kenai Peninsula tidebook with information about marine debris prevention and responsible marine wildlife viewing guideline. To obtain copies, contact keeper@inletkeeper.org.

Support is being provided by NOAA Community-based Marine Debris Clean-up and Prevention Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.