Teaching at the Beach: Marine Debris and the California Coastal Commission's Public Education Program

Abstract

The California Coastal Commission's Public Education Program was created in the 1980's in response to growing alarm over the amount of trash on our beaches and reports of animal entanglements and debris ingestion. The California Coastal Act directs the Coastal Commission to carry out a public education program that includes outreach efforts to schools, youth organizations, and the general public for the purpose of promoting understanding of, fostering a sense of individual responsibility for, and encouraging public initiatives and participation in programs for, the conservation and wise use of coastal and ocean resources (Section 30012(b)(1)). The Coastal Commission embarked on an effort to educate the public to value coastal resources, raise awareness about the harm that marine debris can cause to marine life as well as humans, and engage the public in beach cleanups.