TIRN Attends Second Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium

Last weekend, Turtle Island Restoration Network joined representatives from the EPA, NOAA’s Marine Debris program, local and state government, as well as several universities, NGOs, and students at the second annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium.

We had great representation from across the state on efforts to reduce plastics from entering our ocean, restrictions in place for local government due to legislation at the state level, and multiple studies of entanglement and ingestion of plastic and wildlife.

The general consensus couldn’t be more clear: plastic is killing our wildlife – and although the depth may not be known – it is impacting human health.

Many organizations are doing amazing work here in the Gulf of Mexico to research the impacts of plastics, take on public policy to alleviate the issue, and bring education and awareness to the cause.

But the evidence is piling up. So much plastic is ending up in the ocean that in just a few years, we might end up with a pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish in the sea.

For our sake, and for the sake of our marine neighbors, we must do better. We invite you to participate in the many ways TIRN is helping curb our plastic addiction:

• Take the pledge to never use balloons.

• Read our blog post on 10 ways to keep plastic out of the ocean.

• Eliminate a source of single-use plastic by participating in The Final Straw.

• Make a gift towards Turtle Island Restoration Network’s plastic campaigns.

While it is great to help continue clean up the environment, there was a focus at the symposium on “shutting off the tap” at the source of the problem and a few organizations (including Turtle Island Restoration Network) spoke about how we can pursue advocacy efforts.

As we determine the best avenues for strategic litigation and advocacy for tackling plastic pollution, we will need you by our side to propel these campaigns forward and spread the word on the deadly harm plastic has to marine wildlife—and humans.