Virginia Marine Debris Summit

Wednesday, February 27, 8:15 am - Thursday, February 28, 3:00 pm

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
717 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA. 23451

The Virginia Marine Debris Summit will engage professionals from federal, state and local governments, nonprofits, community groups, industry, and academia who work to prevent and mitigate the litter and waste that degrades our coastal and ocean waters. Together we will identify and review the sources and impacts of marine debris in Virginia, and then develop and prioritize solutions for each type of marine debris. These solutions could include new ways to educate people and change their behavior, motivate them through new incentives, and to innovate products and technology that help the marine environment. Preventing the millions of pounds of marine debris that enter our coastal waters each year - debris that flows into our tidal rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and ultimately the Atlantic ocean - will have positive local and global impacts on our fisheries, tourism, health and economy.  This Summit is the first step towards formulation of a Virginia Marine Debris Management Plan.  

• Overview of marine debris issues of concern:
• recreational and commercial fishing gear
• cigarette butts and balloons
• plastics (food and beverage containers and plastic bags)
• Discussion of innovative programs, including Washington DC Trash TMDL, HRStorm - citizen engagement, Clean Virginia Waterways
• Facilitated break out groups to develop solutions

A more detailed draft agenda is available on the Virginia Marine Debris Summit website - http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/CoastalZoneManagement/VirginiaMarineDebrisSummit/VirginiaMarineDebrisSummitAgenda.aspx

Register by Tuesday, February 19.  

Registration fee: $55.00 --- includes lunch on Wednesday, February 27 and Thursday, February 28, and an evening reception on Wednesday, February 27

One day registration is not available.  Attendees are highly encouraged to attend the entire summit.  Wednesday, February 27 will include presentations, and Thursday, February 28 will include facilitated, interactive sessions to strategize possible ideas for and next steps in the development of a Virginia Marine Debris Management Plan.

(Planning to attend but authorization to register delayed?  Please call Virginia Witmer (804) 698-4320 to reserve your place at the table!)

Hotel:

Rooms have been blocked for the Virginia Marine Debris Summit at the ---

The Oceanfront Inn
2901 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA  23451
Phone:  757-422-0445
Toll-free:  888-826-2326
www.oceanfrontinn.com

Or reserve on-line at http://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=971201&hotelID=75470

Oceanfront room with two double beds - $48/night plus tax
Oceanfront room with king size bed - $53/night plus tax 

Parking is free

Questions?

Please call Virginia Witmer, Virginia CZM Program, (804) 698-4320

Virginia Marine Debris Summit Planning Committee

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Virginia Sea Grant
Clean Virginia Waterways/Longwood University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality - Office of Pollution Prevention  

Sponsors:

Virginia Seafood Council

Virginia Aquaculture Oyster Growers

The Virginia Marine Debris Summit is being funded by the

Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program through a federal CZMA grant from NOAA.