NCEAS Project 12645

Marine debris: Scale and impact of trash in ocean ecosystems

  • Stephanie E. Hampton

ActivityDatesFurther Information
Postdoctoral Fellow20th October—18th November 2011Participant List  
Working Group25th—27th October 2011Participant List  
Postdoctoral Fellow13th February 2012—31st December 2013Participant List  
Working Group5th—8th March 2012Participant List  
Working Group8th—12th October 2012Participant List  
Working Group25th—29th March 2013Participant List  

Abstract
To construct the theory of marine debris incorporating the needs of nonscientific constituencies, this working group will accomplish the following goals: 1) compile and synthesize existing information to determine how much harmful debris is in our ocean; 2) compile and synthesize existing information to determine impacts of marine debris on ocean populations and ecology; 3) compile and synthesize existing information to determine impacts of marine debris on human populations; 4) identify the three most prominent sources/items of plastic debris for which behavior-oriented solutions can be implemented; and 5) analyze research regarding efficacy of policy solutions such as plastic bag bans as they relate to ocean trash items.