The big cleanup continues with over 400,000 pounds of marine debris removed from Alaska’s beaches in 2010.
The Marine Conservation Alliance says that means that since 2003 over 2 million pounds of marine debris has been removed from Alaska coastlines.
Ocean currents bring debris from Asia to Alaska’s shores.
There also are domestic sources for marine debris, as well as debris from international shipping.
Common items include pieces of high seas drift nets, trawl nets and floats and plastics, including water bottles.
One of the bigger projects last year was removing a derelict fishing vessel from the northern fur seal rookery on St. Paul Island.
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