The Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA) represents growers in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii. PCSGA works on behalf of its members on a broad spectrum of issues, including environmental protection, shellfish safety, regulations, technology and marketing. This presentation will discuss PCSGA's current initiative of tackling marine debris and how we are working to reduce plastics entering the waterways by encouraging best farming practices, supporting shoreline clean ups, and finding recycling options. PCSGA and its members have been participating in marine debris removal efforts collectively since 2001. Twice a year, shellfish growers join forces with local agencies and non-profit organizations to remove marine debris of all kinds from the South Puget Sound. The debris is collected by boat, then transported to a land-based sorting station where it is sorted, counted, and its location documented.
Shellfish growers acknowledge their role in taking care of the shorelines where they farm and understand that keeping our beaches clean is a group effort. One of PCSGA's primary goals is to work with our members to minimize the amount of gear escaping from their farms during storm events and supporting cleanup efforts to remove the gear that does enter our waterways. It is important to note that over the last 18 years, the shellfish industry has expanded, and yet the composition of debris collected at our cleanups remains fairly consistent. Non-aquaculture related debris collected at our cleanups continues to make up roughly 80%. Most of the aquaculture gear that is recovered is returned to the company it belongs to or is offered to our members to take and reuse.
As the shellfish industry continues to expand, it is crucial that there are standards and practices put in place to ensure the stewardship of our tidelands continues. PCSGA is now forging partnerships with plastics recyclers to tackle the next issue - how to recycle plastics that have been exposed to the marine environment, either from use on the farm or collected via beach cleanups.