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CRRA2021

The Tentative CRRA2021 Program is now available for viewing. Please note that more information will be added in the coming weeks.  All scheduling is subject to change.

Capture and Prevention of Marine Debris in Waterways

Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 2:45 PM–4:15 PM PDT add to calendar
V3
PRESENTATION TOPIC

MARINE DEBRIS

Session Description

Worldwide, rivers account for 0.8-2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste emissions into the ocean. This provides a strategic opportunity to turn off the tap of plastic entering the ocean that endangers marine life, threatens human livelihoods, and spoils pristine landscapes.

Learn about river plastic capture technologies, conducting research and collecting data, and educating and empowering communities to change their relationship with plastic.

Speakers

Molly Morse, Benioff Ocean Initiative
Title

Project Scientist

Speaker Biography

Molly Morse is a marine scientist with a passion for implementing real-world solutions to environmental challenges. Based at the University of California, Santa Barbara, her work with the Benioff Ocean Initiative focuses on diverse topics such as plastic pollution and fisheries. She currently leads the Clean Currents Coalition, a global network of innovators piloting solutions to turn off the tap of plastic waste from rivers to the ocean. Molly has a BA in biology from Dartmouth College and a MS in marine science and technology from the University of Massachusetts.

Abstract Title

Turn off the Tap!

Speaker Abstract

Worldwide, rivers account for 0.8-2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste emissions into the ocean. This provides a strategic opportunity to turn off the tap of plastic entering the ocean that endangers marine life, threatens human livelihoods, and spoils pristine landscapes. At UC Santa Barbara, applied marine research group Benioff Ocean Initiative is supporting a global network of innovators, the Clean Currents Coalition, in addressing this key source of marine plastics in river systems around the world. At each of the Coalition project sites (across North and South America, Africa, and Asia), we are deploying river plastic capture technologies, conducting research and collecting data, and educating and empowering communities to change their relationship with plastic. Our ultimate goal is to develop scalable solutions that can be replicated around the world and drive the elimination of plastic waste in our waterways.

Crevoshay, WILDCOAST
Title

Communications and Policy Director

Speaker Biography

As Communications & Policy Director Fay develops strategies and cultivates relationships with key elected and appointed officials, while forging partnerships with organizations from the private and social sectors to implement WILDCOAST’s public policy agenda in Mexico and the United States. Fay’s internationally acclaimed conservation communications campaigns have been reported on by the Wall Street Journal, NPR, New York Times, BBC, CNN, Televisa, among others. Fay created and carried out international campaigns such as “My Man Doesn’t Eat Sea Turtle Eggs,” to stop poaching and reduce consumption of sea turtle eggs and meat. 

Abstract Title
Speaker Abstract

WILDCOAST works on US/MX cross-border conservation challenges. The Benioff Ocean Initiative's project with WILDCOAST is focused on capturing plastic waste in the Tijuana River on the Mexico side of the border to prevent its reaching the Pacific on the US side of the border, where the river empties into a US national estuarine research reserve.  Learn more

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