Tag: marinedebris

Bipartisan Legislation Would Enhance Effectiveness of Marine Debris Program
Fishermen's News Online, News

Bipartisan Legislation Would Enhance Effectiveness of Marine Debris Program

New legislation amending the 2020 Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act and the 2006 Marine Debris Act would give NOAA greater flexibility to provide federal resources and enter into cooperative agreements to conduct marine debris prevention and clean-up. The legislation, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent in the previous Congress, also clarifies the function and responsibilities of the congressionally chartered Marine Debris Foundation. Sponsors include Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska. Bonamici said that marine debris threatens the health of the ocean and that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act took a big step toward addressing this pollution, but that Congress now has the opportunity to build on that success by making it easier to use resources provided by law. ...
Hawaii Research Center Paying Commercial Fishermen to Collect Derelict Nets
Fishermen's News Online, News

Hawaii Research Center Paying Commercial Fishermen to Collect Derelict Nets

Hawai’i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research has launched a project to remove derelict fishing gear from the ocean. A bounty will be paid to eligible commercial fishers to remove derelict fishing gear at-sea before it strikes Hawai’i’s coral reefs. Fishers registered in the bounty project will be paid between $1 to $3 per dry pound for derelict fishing gear found at sea and brought back to Oahu. Hawai’i Pacific is partnering with the Hawai’i Longline Association and Hawai’i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources on the project. The goal is to remove 100 metric tons (220,462 pounds) of derelict fishing gear from the Pacific Ocean over two years. The program is partially supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...