The Fifth International Marine Debris Conference took place March 20-25, 2011, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United Nations Environment Programme are co-organizers of the conference, which brought together 440 participants representing 38 countries. Attendees participated in workshops, field trips, technical and policy sessions, poster presentations, and panel discussions. They enjoyed receptions, exhibits of marine debris art from around the globe, musical entertainment, and a movie night with 11 short films on marine debris created by children, researchers, advocates, and educators. Keynote speakers included Jean-Michel Cousteau, Senator Daniel Inouye (HI), Representative Sam Farr (CA), and ocean rower Roz Savage. Conference participants refined and endorsed by acclamation the Honolulu Commitment, which outlines 12 actions to reduce marine debris. Participants and a group of rapporteurs also worked to revise the Honolulu Strategy, a global framework strategy to prevent, reduce, and manage marine debris.
QUICK LINKS:
- Honolulu Strategy
- Honolulu Commitment is available for download
- Conference Proceedings – summary and technical
- Printed Program is available for download
- Conference Agenda at a Glance
- 5IMDC Website
- Sharing lessons learned and best practices to reduce marine debris.
- Promoting international co-learning and exchanging innovative ideas.
- Sharing the latest research initiatives, methods, and results.
- Fostering new partnerships and raising public awareness.
- Monitoring and citizen science
- Research on microplastics/microfibers
- Prevention strategies
- Private sector collaboration and technology
- Education and communication
- Effective laws, regulations, and policies
- Removal methods
- Single-use product policies
- Derelict fishing gear
The 7th International Marine DebrisConference (7IMDC) took place from the 18th to the 23rd of September 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The 7IMDC built on the momentum of past IMDCs by bringing together governments, industry, academia, civil society, and all relevant stakeholders, to discuss the latest science, strengthen collaborations, find solutions and catalyze action to address the urgent, global problem of marine litter and plastic pollution.
The 7IMDC was organized by an Executive Committee comprised of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with the organizational support of the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), and the technical support of U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).