Posted on: Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Senate OKs ocean-debris legislation

Associated Press

A bill that would establish and pay for programs to clean up and prevent debris from drifting into ocean waters and onto the nation's shores has passed the U.S. Senate.

Sponsored by Sen. Dan Inouye, D-Hawai'i, and Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the bill is aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and human health from ocean trash — particularly discarded fishing gear, equipment abandoned by commercial fleets and cargo lost overboard.

"Marine debris is not only unsightly and dangerous to navigation, but it also is deadly to sea creatures, which may die entangled in a discarded fishing net or after ingesting plastic items such as lighters and toys," Inouye told fellow Senate members Friday.

The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate on Friday and now goes to the House.

The measure would authorize $50 million over five years for a debris prevention and removal program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and $25 million over five years to strengthen Coast Guard enforcement of laws banning ship-based pollution.