AK SJR20

Alaska has more than 30,000 miles of shoreline (nearly 50,000 miles of tidal shoreline), exceeding the rest of the United States combined, facing unique marine debris challenges due to ocean currents concentrating debris in remote locations

NOAA-funded projects have removed nearly 2,000,000 pounds of debris from Alaska since 2006, while tribes, communities, and organizations like Ocean Conservancy removed more than 3,000,000 pounds as of 2014

Urges NOAA, EPA, and other federal agencies to provide additional funding and remove barriers that tribes and rural communities face in accessing marine debris cleanup funds

Calls on Alaska's Congressional delegation (Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, Representative Begich) to advocate for increased federal funding for marine debris prevention, cleanup, removal, backhaul, and education

Encourages state collaboration with coastal communities, tribes, nonprofits, municipalities, and the private sector to address marine debris affecting Alaska's shorelines