Surfrider Foundation Applauds Ocean Report, Urges Action on Marine Debris

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Shannon Serrano
Washington Field Coordinator
Surfrider Foundation
253-905-3478
sserrano@surfrider.org

Washington (January 15, 2008) – The Washington Chapters of Surfrider Foundation expressed their support for a report released to West Coast local and state elected officials with specific recommendations to better protect our oceans and coasts. The report was released by the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (JOCI), a national bipartisan voice for ocean policy reform.

The JOCI Report "One Coast, One Future" identifies priority actions for elected officials to advance integrated, coordinated approaches to securing the health of coastal and ocean ecosystems, which our West Coast communities depend on. The reports recommendations address a number of priorities of Surfrider Foundation including: water quality, shoreline preservation, marine debris, nearshore science, stakeholder/ community participation, and ecosystem-based management. The report was requested by 19 elected officials from California, Oregon and Washington State, the report provides a fantastic opportunity to engage key decision-makers in ocean and coastal stewardship.

'Protecting our oceans and coasts starts at the local level,' said Leon E. Panetta, co-chair of the Joint Initiative and former White House Chief of Staff. 'We are pleased to see so much interest in finding solutions to the critical problems facing our oceans and coasts. The Joint Initiative has provided the input that will lead to meaningful ocean policy reform at the state and local level,' Panetta continued.

Among the priorities of the report is a focus on reducing marine debris in the ocean, including discouraging consumption of single-use plastics. Each year, over one million seabirds and one hundred thousand marine mammals die from ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.

For the past year, Surfrider Foundation has been urging City Councils to take action to reduce consumption of single-use plastics in various cities throughout Washington. The Chapters' "Rise Above Plastics" campaigns advocates for a conditional ban on non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags, similar to what many other cities on the west coast have implemented, as well as support of Seattle's Styrofoam ban and "Green Fee" on one time use bags.

Nationally, around 100 billion petroleum-based plastic checkout bags are used each year in the United States, requiring an estimated 12 million barrels of oil each year. Sadly, less than 5% of these bags are recycled each year and cities, counties, and non-profit organizations must pay millions of dollars each year to clean up plastic litter.

For more information on the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative visit http://www.jointoceancommission.org/. To view their initiative report released today visit http://www.jointoceancommission.org/resource-center/1-Reports/2009-01-15_One_Coast_One_Future.pdf.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches through conservation, activism, research, and education.