6IMDC - Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute

Abstracts

The 6IMDC showcased 74 technical sessions and a poster night. These sessions allowed for over 400 oral presentations from around the world to be shared throughout the week, as well as 170 posters.

The 6IMDC Team categorized abstract and poster submissions under ten track areas, listed below. The 6IMDC Book of Abstracts contains the original abstract submissions from the 6IMDC oral and poster presenters.

Monitoring & Citizen Science
Research & Microplastic/Microfibers
Prevention
Private Sector Collaboration, Technology, & Innovation
Education & Communication
Implementing Effective Law Regulations, & Policy
Removal
Single-Use Product Policies, Regulations, & Laws
Derelict Fishing Gear
Innovative Case Studies from Around the World

The 6IMDC team is pleased to announce that 92% of individuals who submitted abstracts were able to be included in the 6IMDC as oral presentations and poster sessions, aligning with the 6IMDC goal to prioritize diversity and inclusion throughout the conference.

Abstract / Poster Coordination

The 6IMDC’s abstract/poster submission process was coordinated by the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). GCFI promotes the exchange of current information on the use and management of marine resources in the Gulf and Caribbean region and operates the Caribbean Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Marine Litter.

Agenda

Attendees

6IMDC Attendees

The 6IMDC brought together more than 700 participants from 54 countries around the world, representing policy and decision makers, multinational agencies, coastal and ocean resource managers, waste management representatives, scientists, planners, academics, public sector groups, private industry, academia, and civil society. With attendees traveling from around the globe, the 6IMDC facilitated connections and transcended geographic boundaries, bringing the marine debris community together.

54 Countries Represented

Australia	Greece	New Zealand	South Korea
Bahamas	Grenada	Nigeria	Spain
Belgium	Hong Kong	Norway	Sri Lanka
Bermuda	Iceland	Pakistan	Sweden
Brazil	India	Panama	Switzerland
Canada	Indonesia	Philippines	Taiwan
Chile	Ireland	Portugal	Thailand
China	Israel	Russia	Turkey
Cyprus	Italy	Samoa	United Kingdom
Denmark	Jamaica	Saudi Arabia	United States of America
Finland	Japan	Seychelles	Uruguay
France	Kenya	Slovenia	Vietnam
Germany	Mexico	South Africa	Virgin Islands- USA Territory
Ghana	Netherlands

Posters

Check out the list of posters and their corresponding abstracts that were featured at the 6IMDC!

Day-of Poster Session Information

Poster Session Hours: Tuesday, March 13^th, 5:15 pm – 7:30 pm
Poster Session Location: Garden Pavilion
Perusing the Posters: Each poster has been assigned a number and will be grouped with other posters within the same track with a similar theme. Poster numbers were displayed prominently on the posters. A list of posters (with poster numbers) was published in the conference program book and assisted with conference attendees in finding a particular poster.

Poster Session Guidelines

Poster dimensions cannot exceed 45 inches x 45 inches (114.3 cm by 114.3 cm). Each poster presenter will be sharing a 4’H x ~ 8’W poster board with one other presenter (see diagram). PLEASE NOTE: Your poster and poster materials cannot exceed 45 inches in width. Pushpins will be provided onsite to hang posters.

The poster presentation should cover the material as described in the abstract. The poster title should be the same as the title submitted with the abstract and displayed prominently at the top of the poster to allow viewers to easily identify your poster. Presenters were required to be present at their poster for the duration of the poster session.

Poster Suggestions and Tips

Please provide author’s names and contact information on the poster. This will allow people to follow up if they are interested in more information.
Keep content simple and provide a clear message. Please use an appropriate size font, so that it is legible 3 – 5 feet (~1 – 1.5 meters) from the poster board. Figures, tables, and diagrams should also be legible from this distance.
Consider putting a picture of yourself on the poster so people can identify you at the conference.
Consider your audience. Keep in mind the diverse mix of conference attendees, including people representing a variety of vocations (scientists, educators, industry, policy, students, etc.) and attendees coming from many countries.
To minimize waste, please consider business cards for follow up correspondence in lieu of printed poster handouts

Additional Poster Resources:

Questions of concerns? Contact i[email protected] for more information.

Proceedings

Speakers

Keynote & Plenary Speakers

Welcome Ceremony & Plenary

Monday, March 12 | 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Welcome Speakers

Image of David Attenborough. Sir David Attenborough (Video Message)
For the last 60 years, David Attenborough has been one of the worldʼs leading natural history ﬁlmmakers, making landmark series including Life on Earth, Blue Planet and Planet Earth, seen by billions of people across the planet. His extraordinary career has spanned black and white, color, HD and 3D formats and his ﬁlms have won multiple Emmys and British Academy (BAFTA) awards. David was knighted by the Queen in 1985 and was given Britainʼs highest honour, the Order of Merit. He has also received numerous other awards and is a fellow of the Royal Society.

Image of David Alvarez. Councilman David Alvarez | City of San Diego
Elected to the San Diego City Council in 2010, Councilmember Alvarez chairs the Environment Committee and Otay Mesa Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Public Financing Authority. He is a member of the Smart Growth & Land Use, Infrastructure and Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committees. He has been a regional leader in advocating for more park space in the South Bay, increasing and safeguarding San Diegoʼs water supply, border infrastructure and decreasing border wait times to increase trade and commerce, and creating more opportunities for local small businesses. David lives in Logan Heights with his wife Xochitl, their daughter Izel, son Javier and his father.

Image of Dr. Barbara Hendrie.

Dr. Barbara Hendrie, Director, North America | UN Environment
Dr. Barbara Hendrie is the Director of UN Environment North America. She has over two decades experience as a senior international diplomat/negotiator and development/humanitarian professional, working for both the United Kingdom and United States governments. She was a senior oﬃcial in the United Kingdomʼs Department for International Development (DFID) from 1999 to 2015, and a senior political appointee of President Obama based in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2015-2016. Barbara, a native of New York, has a Ph.D. and Masters in social anthropology from University College, London, UK, and a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College in Maine, USA. She is a dual US-UK citizen.

Image of Russell Callender. Dr. Russell Callender, Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services
and Coastal Zone Management | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Dr. Russell Callender is the Assistant Administrator for NOAAʼs National Ocean Service. The National Ocean Service (NOS) addresses evolving economic, environmental and social pressures on our oceans and coasts. As Assistant Administrator, Dr. Callender provides strategic vision for NOS. He leads the implementation of activities to promote safe and eﬃcient transportation and commerce, support preparedness and risk reduction, and advance stewardship, recreation, and tourism. Dr. Callender actively establishes and grows partnerships with other federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, and industry. Dr. Callender has more than 20 years of science, policy, and management experience that includes senior positions throughout NOAA. Dr. Callender holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Texas A&M.

Keynote

Image of Afroz Shah. Afroz Shah, Environmental Organizer | Mumbai, India
Afroz Shah is a young Indian lawyer from Mumbai who has become synonymous with the worldʼs largest beach clean-up project. In October 2015, Shah and his neighbor Harbansh Mathur, an 84-year-old who has since passed away, were frustrated with the piles of decomposing waste that had washed up and completely overwhelmed the cityʼs Versova beach. Determined to do something about it, the pair started cleaning up the beach themselves, one piece of rubbish at a time. Every weekend since, Shah has inspired volunteers to join him ‒ from slum-dwellers to Bollywood stars, from schoolchildren to politicians. This impressive eﬀort inspired Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make beach cleanups part of the Clean India surge. As a result, beach clean ups are being organized on 13 other beaches around the country, and similar eﬀorts are being carried out around the world.

International Leadership Panel

Image of Chever Voltmer. Ms. Chever Voltmer, Acting Director | US State Department, Oﬃce of Ocean and Polar Aﬀairs, Bureau of Oceans and International, Environmental and Scientiﬁc Aﬀairs (Moderator)
A career member of the Foreign Service, Chever X. Voltmer currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Oﬃce of Oceans and Polar Aﬀair in the State Departmentʼs Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental Aﬀairs since August, 2016. Prior to that, she was Deputy Chief of Mission in Tallinn, Estonia and served on multiple overseas assignments. Washington posts include a detail as a trade negotiator at the U.S. Trade Representative and an assignment in the Departmentʼs Oﬃce of Multilateral Trade. She holds undergraduate degrees in economics and Russian studies and is a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College with a degree in National Security Studies.

Image of Ola Elvestuen. Mr. Ola Elvestuen, Minister of Climate and Environment | Norway
(Video Message)
Mr. Elvestuen was ﬁrst elected to the Oslo City Council in 2003, and headed the City Development Committee from 2003 to 2011. He was city councilor for Environment and Transportation in Oslo during 2011-2013. Elvestuen was leader of the Oslo branch of the Liberal Party from 2000-2007, and has been deputy leader in the Liberal Party since 2008. In 2013, he was elected to Parliament, from Oslo, and he was re-elected in 2017. From 2013 to 2017 he chaired the parliamentary Committee on Energy and Environment. Elvestuen holds a Bachelorʼs degree from the University of Oslo, having studied Social Anthropology, Political Science and History.

Image of Stephen Lucas. Dr. Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister | Environment Climate Change Canada
Dr. Stephen Lucas was appointed Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada on January 23, 2017. Prior to this post, Dr. Lucas served as Senior Associate Deputy Minister (Climate Change) and led ECCC activities in support of the development and adoption of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Before joining ECCC, Dr. Lucas served in many government capacities, including as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet for Plans and Consultations and Intergovernmental Aﬀairs and Assistant Secretary, Economic and Regional Development Policy at the Privy Council Oﬃce. He has a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from Queenʼs University and a Ph.D. in structural geology and tectonics from Brown University.

Image of Safri Burhanuddin. Dr. Safri Burhanuddin, Deputy Minister | Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Aﬀairs, Republic of Indonesia
Currently the Deputy Minister for Human Resources, Sciences and Technologies and Maritime Culture, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Aﬀairs and Resources, Republic of Indonesia (since May 2015). Dr Safri has an Engineering Degree in Geology from the University of Padjadjaran (UNPAD) Bandung, an MSc in Marine Geology and a Doctorate in Marine Geology, both from the Universite de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO) in Brest, France. He is also a lecturer at Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.

Image of Alain de Comarmond. Mr. Alain de Comarmond, Principal Secretary | Environment Department, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Republic of Seychelles
Mr. Alain de Comarmond serves as the Principal Secretary for Environment, of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change for the Government of Seychelles. Mr. De Comarmondʼs area of expertise lies in general environmental science and management issues. Through various responsibilities within the Ministry responsible for Environment he has worked and discharged responsibilities in coastal management and adaptation, development control and environmental Impact Assessment, disaster management, pollution control, climate change. He is presently the head of the Environment Department responsible for biodiversity conservation and management. Mr. de Comarmond received a B.Sc. (Hons) Environmental Management, University of Wolverhampton, U.K.

Image of Habib N. El-Habr. Mr. Habib N. El-Habr, Coordinator | Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities, United Nations Environment Programme
Habib N. El-Habr is the Coordinator of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Dr. El-Habr also served as Director and Regional Representative of UNEPʼs Regional Oﬃce for West Asia in Bahrain. He joined UNEP in 1988, becoming Deputy Chief of the Freshwater Unit in Nairobi and then Deputy Director of the UNEP International Environment Technology Center in Japan as well as Deputy Coordinator of the Barcelona Convention Secretariat. Dr. El-Habr worked as a water research specialist at the National Scientiﬁc Research Council
in France before his UN career. He has a long experience in coastal and marine management, water management, and environmental health and assessment.

Plenary

Wednesday, March 14 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Image of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Video Message)
Sheldon Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, plays a key role in crafting policies addressing environmental protection and climate change. In 2011, he cofounded the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus to increase awareness of issues facing the oceans and coasts. Whitehouse has long advocated for a dedicated funding source for ocean and coastal research and restoration. He created the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund to support habitat preservation, ocean monitoring, ﬁsheries management, and sustainable coastal development.

Youth Speaker

Image of Melati Wjisen. Melati Wjisen, Co-Founder | Bye Bye Plastic Bags
Melati is a 17-year old Indonesian/Dutch activist, born and raised on the island of Bali. She has co-founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags and has been leading the movement driven by youth for 5 years now. She is currently in her last year of High School at Green School Bali and is also a member of the Worldʼs Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council. Melati is passionate about the environment, humanity, and youth empowerment.

State of the Science Panel

Image of Matthew Cole. Matthew Cole, Lord Kingsland Fellow | Plymouth Marine Laboratory (Moderator)
Matthew Cole is an early career research scientist whose research focuses upon how human activity and pollution can aﬀect the marine environment. Matthew conducted his PhD on the ʻImpact of microplastics on zooplanktonʼ at Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the University of Exeter from 2010-2014. His early research highlighted the risks microscopic plastic debris (microplastic) can pose to zooplankton. Following on from his PhD, Matthew was employed as a research fellow at the University of Exeter, investigating the impact of marine plastic on biota and ecosystem processes. Matthew returned to Plymouth Marine Laboratory in October 2017 as a Lord Kingsland Fellow where he is continuing to research how microplastic and pollutants are impacting on marine life.

Image of Chelsea Rochman. Dr. Chelsea Rochman, Assistant Professor | University of Toronto
Chelsea Rochman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Chelsea has been researching the sources, sinks and ecological implications of plastic debris in marine and freshwater habitats for the past decade. Her work brings her to traditional and non-traditional waste sites, from the worldʼs remote ocean “garbage patches” to wastewater treatment plants and landﬁlls around the world. She has published dozens of scientiﬁc papers in respected journals and has led international working groups about plastic pollution.

Image of Jenna Jambeck. Dr. Jenna Jambeck, Associate Professor | University of Georgia
Dr. Jenna Jambeck is an Associate Professor in the College of Engineering and Director of the Center for Circular Materials Management in the New Materials Institute at the University of Georgia. She teaches and has been conducting research on solid waste issues for over 20 years with related projects on marine debris since 2001. She specializes in global waste management issues and plastic contamination, as well as currently working in policy and environmental diplomacy in the International Informational Speakers Program for the US State Department conducting programs in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Image of Kara Lavender Law. Dr. Kara Lavender Law, Research Professor | Sea Education Association
Dr. Kara Lavender Law is a Research Professor at Sea Education Association (Woods Hole, MA), studying the sources, distribution, behavior and fate of plastic debris in the ocean. Dr. Lawʼs research focuses on the sources of plastic to the marine environment, understanding how ocean physics determines the distribution of plastic debris, and the degradation and ultimate fate of diﬀerent plastic materials in the ocean. She serves as the co-principal investigator of the NCEAS Marine Debris Working Group, and holds a PhD in physical oceanography from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a BS in mathematics from Duke University.

Lunch

Thursday, March 15 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Panel on Corporate and Social Responsibility: Reducing Ocean Plastics Across Value Chains

Image of Nicholas Mallos. Nicholas Mallos, Director of the Trash Free Seas Program | Ocean Conservancy (moderator)
Nicholas Mallos is Director of the Trash Free Seas® Program at Ocean Conservancy. Nick oversees Ocean Conservancyʼs work on marine debris which include the annual International Coastal Cleanup, its international plastics initiative and the Trash Free Seas Alliance® (a co-operative group of businesses, conservationists and scientists focused on reducing plastic inputs into the ocean by 50% by 2025). Nick has testiﬁed before the U.S. Senate on the sources and impacts of plastic debris in the ocean, and routinely participates in international policy discussions at the Asia-Paciﬁc Economic Cooperation, United Nations Environment Programme and other global fora.

Image of Elissa Foster. Elissa Foster, Senior Manager of Product Responsibility | Patagonia
Elissa is Senior Manager of Product Responsibility at Patagonia. She is responsible for researching and measuring the environmental impacts of Patagoniaʼs materials and implementing programs to reduce those impacts. Elissa has been working on environmental projects for Patagonia for twelve years. Prior to working in her current position at Patagonia, Elissa worked as an Environmental Specialist for the City of Ventura. Elissa has a BS degree in Zoology from UC Santa Barbara, Masterʼs degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management (UCSB), and a Doctorate of Environmental Science and Engineering from UCLA.

Image of Kim Johnson. Kim Johnson | Music Manager, Philanthropist, and Environmental Educator
Kim Johnson, with husband Jack, founded the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation to support environmental education in Hawaiʼi and the Johnson Ohana Foundation to support environmental, art, and music education worldwide. As Jackʼs co-manager, Kim has taken a lead role in advancing greening initiatives for all aspects of Jack touring, and has served as creative lead in the development of fan engagement campaigns through their All At Once social action network. Throughout all of these eﬀorts, Kim and Jack strive to raise awareness in support of sustainable local food systems and plastic free initiatives.

Image of Conrad Mackerron. Conrad Mackerron, Senior Vice President | As You Sow
Conrad MacKerron is Senior Vice President at As You Sow, an Oakland non-proﬁt that promotes corporate social responsibility through shareholder advocacy. Conrad has more than a decade of experience managing corporate dialogues and shareholder advocacy initiatives on key social and environmental issues. He has engaged Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, PepsiCo, and Procter & Gamble on sustainable packaging; and Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, and Dell on electronic waste recycling. In the social arena, he has engaged Gap, McDonaldʼs, Nordstrom, Nike and Walt Disney on supply chain labor practices. His most recent focus challenges consumer brands to make plastic packaging more recyclable and to take more responsibility for improvement of recycling collection and processing systems.

Image of Stephen Sikra. Stephen Sikra, Associate Director, Corporate R&D, Global Product Stewardship | Procter & Gamble
Stephen Sikra is a Materials Science Engineer with more than 26 years at The Procter & Gamble Company where he is currently Associate Director, Corporate R&D, Global Product Stewardship with responsibilities for P&Gʼs global Solid Waste Management strategy and driving end-of-life innovations. His history includes management roles in process and package development, product supply operations, materials science innovations, and end-of-life solutions for P&G products and packages. Stephen is a champion for plastic recycling and a collaborative partner with many companies, trade organizations, and NGOs.

Closing Plenary

Friday, March 16 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Panel on a Multi-Sector Perspective: Next Steps in Combating Marine Debris

Image of Anna Cummins. Anna Cummins, Co-Founder and Global Strategy Director | 5 Gyres
Anna Cummins received her undergraduate degree in History from Stanford University, and her Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Anna spent much of her early youth playing in Santa Monica stormdrains and exploring beaches, experiences that sparked her interest in the land-sea connection. Anna has spent the last 25 years working in the environmental ﬁeld, in marine conservation, bilingual outreach, and sustainability education. She and her husband founded 5 Gyres in 2009, to stop the ﬂow of plastic pollution from source to sea through science, education, and adventure.

Image of Andrew Falcon. Andrew R. Falcon, CEO | Full Cycle Bioplastics
Andrew Falcon brings extensive commercial, operations, and general management expertise to his role as CEO of Full Cycle Bioplastics. A seasoned operating executive, Andrew’s experience with alternative materials, packaging, and zero-waste solutions makes him particularly well suited to lead Full Cycle’s transition from lab to commercial scale. Andrew is passionate in his belief that circular, regenerative solutions are essential for the long-term health of the planet, and that entrepreneurs, innovation and markets have the best chance to catalyze system-level change. Andrew lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two children and holds a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Image of Albert George. Albert George, Director of Conservation | South Carolina Aquarium
Albert George is the ﬁrst Director of Conservation for the South Carolina Aquarium and also the co-founder of the Amazon Reforestation Project. Previously, he worked as the Director of Education for Georgia Aquarium, Inc. Mr. George completed his B.S. in Marine Biology and Chemistry from Savannah State University and the P.R.E.P. program at Yale University concentrating in physiology and cellular molecular genetics. He has also completed a program of study from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government/MIT and a M.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Image of Von Hernandez. Von Hernandez, Global Coordinator | Break Free From Plastic Movement
Von Hernandez is a leading Filipino environmental activist currently serving as Global Coordinator of the Break Free from Plastic Movement, a dynamic movement of more than 1000 groups campaigning to end plastic pollution. Previously, he served as Global Development Director for Greenpeace International and as Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. He co-founded environmental coalitions including the Philippinesʼ Ecowaste Coalition, Waste Not Asia, and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. In 2003, he was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his activism, which led to the ﬁrst national ban on waste incineration. Von was recognized by Time magazine as one of its Heroes for the Environment in 2007.

Image of Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson, Musician and Environmentalist
Jack Johnson grew up surﬁng and playing guitar in Hawaii. Since 2001, he has released 7 studio albums and 2 live albums that have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. His Brushﬁre Records label and touring crew are leaders in greening the music industry, and his All At Once social action network connects fans with local non-proﬁts at every show. Jack, with his wife Kim, founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to support environmental education in Hawaii and the Johnson Ohana Foundation to support environmental, art and music education worldwide. Through these eﬀorts, Johnson supports plastic free initiatives and raises awareness about solutions to plastic ocean pollution.

Image of Steve Russell. Steve Russell, Vice President, Plastics Division | American Chemistry Council
Steve is Vice President, Plastics, at ACC. He leads a variety of programs to address the sustainability of plastics, and to ﬁnance recycling and waste management in the US and emerging economies. He helped create the World Plastics Council — CEOs from the worldʼs leading plastics companies to prioritize and fund systems to keep plastic out of our ocean. Mr. Russell previously developed materials product stewardship programs in the US and Europe, has served on a Federal advisory committee on chemicals policy, and created a program to make chemical health and safety information publicly available. He has a BA from the University of Kansas and a JD from California Western School of Law.

Image of Joanna Toole. Joanna Toole, Fishing Operations and Technology Branch | Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
Joanna Toole works in the Fishing Operations and Technology Branch of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). A major focus of Joannaʼs work is on abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and she has recently been involved in the development of FAO guidelines on the marking of fishing gear. Joanna has an NGO background and in previous roles led the formation of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) and has also worked on marine debris issues for the NGO OceanCare. FAO is on the Steering Committee of the Global Partnership for Marine Litter.

Image of Melati Wjisen. Melati Wijsen, Co-Founder | Bye Bye Plastic Bags
Melati is a 17-year old Indonesian/Dutch activist, born and raised on the island of Bali. She has co-founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags and has been leading the movement driven by youth for 5 years now. She is currently in her last year of High School at Green School Bali and is also a member of the Worldʼs Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council. Melati is passionate about the environment, humanity, and youth empowerment.

Technical Sessions

The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference (6IMDC) brought together international marine debris researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers, industry representatives, and the nongovernmental community. The impetus for this international marine debris conference was the pressing need to address and reduce the impacts of marine debris to vital natural resources, human health and safety, and the economy.

Objectives of this international conference included sharing lessons learned and best practices to reduce and prevent marine debris and its impacts; promoting international co-learning; exchanging innovative ideas such as market incentives and communication strategies; and sharing the latest research initiatives, methods, and results. This conference was structured to be action, solution, and change-oriented.

Registration

VISAs

If you are an international participant coming from outside the United States, please make sure to give yourself adequate time for the VISA and international travel process. Depending on your country of origin, this may take considerable time. Please plan ahead.

Travel Awards

The call for travel award applications is closed. The United Nations Environment will be overseeing the travel award application collection and distribution process. Applicants received notification on Monday, November 20, 2017.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received on or before Monday, February 5, 2018 are entitled to a full refund. Cancellations received after February 5, 2018 will receive a 50% refund of the registration fee. There will be no refunds after Friday, March 9, 2018. The 6IMDC, pre-conferences, and related events are offered on a cost-recovery basis and may be cancelled due to adverse events beyond the control of the 6IMDC Team or if there is insufficient registration. In the event that the 6IMDC is cancelled, the 6IMDC Team cannot be responsible for any cancellation/charge assessed to registrants by airlines, travel agencies, or hotels.

Registration Coordination

The 6IMDC’s registration coordination will be overseen by the University of New Hampshire’s Coastal Research Response Center (CRRC). CRRC focuses on the education, research and outreach involved with all aspects of marine pollution and debris, with an overall objective of promoting effective protection, restoration and recovery of coastal areas.

Honolulu Strategy

The Honolulu Strategy is a framework for a comprehensive and global effort to reduce the ecological, human health, and economic impacts of marine debris. You can find more information here. It is intended for use as a planning tool, common frame of reference for collaboration, and a monitoring tool on multiple levels—global, regional, national, and local—involving the full spectrum of civil society, government and intergovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

IMDC Historical Background

In March 2011, the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference (5IMDC) was held in Honolulu, Hawaii in cooperation with NOAA, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other agencies and organizations. The conference brought over 450 participants from the marine debris community together to develop and create a document known as the Honolulu Strategy. All told there were 45 sessions with 213 oral presentations, 5 panels, and 65 poster presentations on issues ranging from the role of government, industry and consumer choice in preventing marine debris to community led coastal cleanups. Several sessions focused on the latest research in the field of marine debris and illustrated that the problem is pervasive, impacting all ocean areas.

Collectively, these sessions and the numerous plenary speakers highlighted the complexity of the marine debris challenge facing the international community. Many speakers highlighted the challenges surrounding the presence of plastics in the marine environment. Importantly, the conference drew attention to the detrimental and cascading impacts of debris to marine ecosystems and their biodiversity. 5IMDC proceedings are available here.

Arts & Multimedia

Matters of the Ocean Art Gallery

Terrazza Ballroom and other venue locations
Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Evening Reception: Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Matters of the Ocean brought together professional and student artists in discussion of the world’s shared waters. The collection of works raises awareness about ocean pollution and creates a space in which to immerse conference participants in an emotional, visceral understanding of the depth of marine debris’ impact. Each of the artists’ work addresses matters of the ocean while providing space for each artist to take these matters into their own hands and inspire change in others.

Featured Artists:

• Mary Babcock, USA
• Mandy Barker, UK
• Jana Cruder and Matthew LaPenta, USA
• Mark Cunningham, USA
• Tess Felix, USA
• Janeanne Gilchrist, Scotland
• Guerrilla Plastic Movement/Pippip Ferner and Christine Istad, Norway
• Fran Miller, Australia
• Tuula Narhinen, Finland
• Katie Peck, USA
• Jim Swaim, USA
• Jerry Takigawa, USA
• Sondra Weiss, USA

Gallery Organizer:

Kathryn Peck (USA)
Katie recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Chapman University in Orange County, CA. Her recent work focuses on visualization of ocean plastic pollution. Through beach cleanups and collaboration with scientists, she has created sculptures that combine real data with debris. The goal of her work is to educate viewers on objects found on the coastline and how to make lifestyle changes to prevent marine debris.

Funding for the 6IMDC Matters of the Ocean art gallery has been provided by the Johnson Ohana Foundation, founded by Kim and Jack Johnson to support environmental, art, and music education.

Opening Night Reception

Monday, March 12th, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

The opening night reception kick-started the week’s events and offer a forum for networking for participants. The opening night reception highlighted winners from the Clean Seas campaign’s Marine Litter Innovation Challenge and Photo Competition. Appetizers and drinks will be provided. Please bring your 6IMDC steel cup!

6IMDC Movie Night

Thursday, March 15 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

The San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival has provided marine debris films from their traveling program. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Please bring your 6IMDC steel cup!

@415Plumber’s #OB_Plastic Obsession Jeff den Breeder (USA) | 7 min
Grabbing a few rays at the beach could get you stuck by a used needle, though it rarely leads to a lifelong environmental preoccupation. But that’s what happened to Aaron, a plumber who now spends a couple of hours a day scouring San Francisco’s Ocean Beach for plastic-dolls’ arms, key rings, animals and soldiers. He works alone, enjoying the meditative silence.

Ain’t No Fish Tom Gasek & Miki Cash (USA) | 4 min
A short stop motion animated film featuring a bunch of hungry Arctic seals singing along to the music and lyrics of Sigman and Russell as performed by Hoagy Carmichael. It’s an ‘easy-golucky’ song about fishing and why ‘Some Days There Just Ain’t No Fish’. As the animated seals sing along to the show tune it’s slowly revealed in the background why there ‘Ain’t No Fish.’ Despite the upbeat attitude of the seals the garbage and oil industry that pervades the sea provides the answer.

Gloop Michael Woodruff & Gaby Bastyra (UK) | 4min
Award winning film “Gloop” is a dark fairytale that follows the meteoric rise of plastic from its inception in Leo’s gloomy laboratory 100 years ago. Told like a Brother’s Grimm fable, “Gloop” offers a poignant and lasting message about the price we pay for the convenience of plastic.

The Majestic Plastic Bag Jeremy Kanner (USA) | 4 min
This mockumentary, narrated by Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons, tracks the “migration”
of a plastic bag from a grocery store parking lot to the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” in the
Pacific Ocean.

Plastic is Forever Dylan D’Haeze (USA) | 19 min | 2017 ENVIRONMENT AWARD
What happens when you throw plastic trash away? Dylan, a 13-year-old from the San Juan
Islands, follows plastic trash to where it ends up, and shows how kids can help make a
difference in a world that is increasingly dependent on plastic.

A Plastic Sea Justin Lewis & Michelle Stauffer (USA) | 12 min
In the Sargasso Sea and around Bermuda, fragments from the breakdown of plastics, especially
single-use plastics, are accumulating in sea life, and we are all responsible. The issue of the
impact of plastic in the oceans is gaining increasing attention and this film succinctly presents
the problems – and hints at a solution to reversing some of them.

Straws Linda Booker (USA) | 33 min
It is estimated that each day in the U.S. alone, up to 500 million plastic straws are used once and thrown away. Sound like a problem for the environment? This look at the history of straws and their impact on the environment will make you reconsider how you order your next drink.

International Ocean Film Festival logo.

The 6IMDC team would also like to extend a special “thank you” to The Marine Mammal Center, Bureo, and the San Diego State University Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory for providing conference decor.

Field Learning Activities

There were several supplemental field learning activities, organized and run by outside organizations, that were available during the week of the 6IMDC. See below for details on these opportunities.

Mission Bay Beach Sunset Cleanup

Join I Love A Clean San Diego for a sunset cleanup on Mission Beach. Because of its proximity to the San Diego River and a busy commercial district, Mission Beach presents a unique opportunity to observe the types of debris that travel through San Diego to the Pacific Ocean. As volunteers remove trash, they will be encouraged to contribute to an international marine debris database by logging findings in Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app.

Date	Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	4:00 – 7:00 PM
Location	Mission Beach
Cost	Free
Space	Unlimited
Transportation	Provided, participants meet at the bus loading area in front of the Hilton lobby
Physical activity	Walking in sand for distances up to one mile
Registration	Join the event!

Smog of the Sea Film Screening & Happy Hour

Join Surfrider San Diego on the evening of Wednesday, March 14, for Happy Hour at a nearby Ocean Friendly Restaurant, followed by a screening of The Smog of the Sea. This short film follows the 5 Gyres SEA Change voyage documenting microplastic pollution in the Sargasso Sea. Hear first-hand from marine scientist Markus Eriksen and other expedition participants, and join a conversation about solutions to plastic ocean pollution.

Date	Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	5:00 – 8:45 PM
Location	Pueblo
Cost	Free
Space	Limited – this event is now full. Email [email protected] with questions or to be added to waitlist.
Transportation	Participants must coordinate their own transportation
Physical activity	Some walking and standing; participants are encouraged to dress warmly as the activity will take place outside
Registration	Join the event!

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve Tour

Join the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association for a guided driving tour through the Tijuana River Valley and Border Field State Park. Learn about bi-national conservation efforts to control stormwater runoff, visit a marine debris catchment basin, and witness infrastructure built from recovered debris.

Date	Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	3:45 – 7:00 PM
Location	Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
Cost	$17 per person
Space	70 participants – this event is now full
Transportation	Provided, participants meet at the bus loading area in front of the Hilton lobby
Physical activity	Short-distance walking on uneven terrain at various van stops
Registration	Join the event!

Working Waterfront Tour

Join the San Diego Port Tenants Association for an up-close tour of the Working Waterfront of San Diego Bay. In this region, maritime industry contributes an annual $3.5 billion to the economy and generates 12,800 jobs. The Waterfront is a powerful economic engine with high standards for sustainable practices.

Date	Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	4:00 – 6:30 PM
Location	Port of San Diego
Cost	Free
Space	50 participants – this event is now full
Transportation	Provided, participants meet at the bus loading area in front of the Hilton lobby
Physical activity	Walking
Registration	Join the event!

Ocean Plastic Pollution Monitoring Cruise with Captain Charles Moore

Join Algalita Marine Research and Education aboard their vessel, the ORV Alguita, to collect surface and sediment microplastic samples.

Date	Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	4:00 – 7:00 PM
Location	Mission Bay Hyatt Regency Dock
Cost	Free
Space	Limited – this event is now full
Transportation	Participants must coordinate their own transportation to the Hyatt to meet the vessel
Physical activity	Bending, crouching; While this tour is expected to stay close to shore, the vessel will be moving slowly for sample collection so this option may not be best for those prone to seasickness
Registration	Join the event!

Trash Skimmer Demonstration

Join Clean Ocean Access for a demonstration of the marina trash skimmer. Learn about the skimmer technology, operational requirements, and functionality. This event will be taking place on two separate evenings during the 6IMDC.

Date	Sunday, March 11, 2018 -OR- Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Time	4:00 – 5:30 PM
Location	Half Moon Marina
Cost	Free
Space	30 participants – this event is now full
Transportation	Provided, participants meet at the bus loading area in front of the Hilton lobby
Physical activity	Walking
Registration	Join the event!

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Marine Pollution Bulletin Virtual Special Issue

A Virtual Special Issue in Marine Pollution Bulletin, a peer-reviewed scientiﬁc journal, will feature highlights from the 6IMDC. This Special Issue will present data on marine debris ranging from nanoplastics to derelict ﬁshing gear and abandoned and derelict vessels, found in freshwater bodies, coastal zones, and the open ocean. We welcome original papers on topics including monitoring and citizen science, economics of marine debris, research on impacts to wildlife, the chemistry of marine debris, fate and transport, and implementing eﬀective policy, as well as the dialogue on innovative solutions for prevention, removal and education. The target audience includes members of the academic community, policy-makers, conservation groups, industry, educators, concerned citizens, and local, state, federal and tribal entities.

All articles will be submitted, reviewed, and ﬁnally accepted online via the Elsevier Editorial System. Special Issue content will be published in regular issues of Marine Pollution Bulletin as they are accepted. Accepted submissions will also be compiled in a Virtual Special Issue, easily accessible and navigable on ScienceDirect.

Overseeing Editor	Francois Galgani, French Institute for Exploration of the Sea, France
Managing Guest Editor	Amy V. Uhrin, NOAA Marine Debris Program, USA
Guest Editor	Sue Kinsey, Marine Conservation Society, UK
Guest Editor	Sunwook (Sunny) Hong, Our Sea of East Asia Network, South Korea
Submission Deadline (NEW)	July 25, 2018
Notification of Acceptance	by December 25, 2018

Abstract and Poster Submissions

Abstract / Poster Coordination

6IMDC TECHNICAL SESSIONS

Technical Topics

Registration

VISAs

Travel Awards

Cancellation Policy

Registration Coordination

Thank You to Our Current Sponsors

Platinum | $50,000

Gold | $25,000

Silver | $10,000

Bronze | $5,000

Contributor

What is Marine Debris?

Honolulu Strategy

IMDC Historical Background