Climate of Our Future

Ocean Conservancy

Spruill Provides Ocean Conservation Expertise and Leadership and Unveils Landmark Report on the Growing Problem of Marine Debris

November 2, 2007

Media Contact: Kelly Ricaurte

Biloxi, MS — Today, Ocean Conservancy President and CEO Vikki Spruill joined First Lady Laura Bush as the White House unveiled a new initiative to address the dangerous issue of marine debris during the dedication ceremony at the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center-Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Biloxi, Mississippi. Spruill applauded the First Lady’s leadership and spoke about the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest volunteer effort to improve the health of the ocean and its wildlife. She also discussed key findings from the National Marine Debris Monitoring Program the first ever scientific study of marine debris, released today by Ocean Conservancy in conjunction with the White House event.

“I am excited about the synergies between the new White House plan for addressing marine debris and Ocean Conservancy’s ongoing work. Trash in our oceans kills and injures wildlife through ingestion and entanglement, and coastal communities bear the economic costs of debris removal, lost tourism and lower property values - but there is hope. The world over, from Biloxi to Bangladesh, people are uniting to solve the problem of marine debris,” said Vikki Spruill, President and CEO at Ocean Conservancy. “The First Lady’s dedication to the issues we have been fighting for is inspiring — and, it gives a big push to the sea change that is underway.”

Prevention is the real solution to the problem of trash in our ocean, and it is an essential step toward stewardship of our ocean. For 22 years, Ocean Conservancy has convened the International Coastal Cleanup, involving nearly a half a million volunteers in 70 countries. Every year around the world, volunteers spend a few hours removing trash and debris from beaches, lakes, rivers and other waterways and record what they find. The data they collect is then analyzed by Ocean Conservancy staff and used to help find solutions for reducing marine debris. In 2006 volunteers worldwide removed more than 7 million pounds of debris. Data from the 2007 Cleanup is currently being assessed and will be available in spring 2008.

For more information about Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the National Marine Debris Monitoring Program, and the issue of debris in the ocean, visit www.oceanconservancy.org/nmdmp