Ocean Conservancy is Thrilled to Join the 7th International Marine Debris Conference

The 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC) is the world’s longest-running international conference dedicated to the issue of marine litter and plastic pollution. Ocean Conservancy representatives will host or speak at more than 15 events at the conference and are working with conference organizers and partner Our Sea of East Asia Network (OSEAN) to host an official International Coastal Cleanup event at Gwangalli Beach on the final day of the conference.

First held in Hawaii in 1984, the conference brings together government and private sector representatives, NGOs, academia, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss the latest research, strengthen relationships and catalyze action to address marine litter and plastic pollution. For the first time in its nearly 40-year history, the event will be held outside of the United States, in the coastal city of Busan, South Korea, from September 18-23, 2022. Lead organizers are the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Earlier this year, the Republic of Korea joined Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI), the world’s only alliance solely dedicated to solving the problem of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (also known as “ghost gear”).

Our Work

Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.

Working Toward Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework for how we can collectively work towards a sustainable future. The ocean plays a key role in that future and Ocean Conservancy’s work helps achieve not only Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water, but also many of the other 16 Goals.

Where to Find Us

Those attending the conference can join Ocean Conservancy at their booth or at the following events:

Note all times are listed in KST.

• TS-2.15 Plastic Pulse of the Public on Monday, September 22 from 16:00 – 17:30 in 104-105
• TS-8.2 International Efforts to Address Sea-based Sources of Marine Litter on Monday, September 22 from 16:00 – 17:30 in 201-202
• TS-5.4: The United States’ Role and Responsibility in Stopping Ocean Plastics on Tuesday, September 20 from 8:30 to 9:30 in 203-204
• TS-7.8 Harnessing Strategic Support to Address Marine Plastic Pollution on Tuesday, September 20 from 9:45-10:45 in 203-204
• TS-7.3 ALDFG Origami: Seafood Industry Folding Ghost Gear into CSR Metrics on Tuesday, September 20 from 11:00 – 12:00 in 104-105
• TS-6.1 Advancing Solutions to Plastic Pollution Through Inclusive Recycling on Tuesday, September 20 from 11:00 – 12:00 in 101-102
• TS-5.111 Changing Our Connection to Plastics in Miami: Key Findings and Opportunities from the Circularity Assessment Protocol n Tuesday, September 20 from 13:30 – 15:00 in 205
• TS-8.1 Addressing Global Data Gaps on Ghost Gear and other Marine Debris on Tuesday, September 20 from 13:30 – 15:00 in 101-102
• TS-9.4 Urban Ocean: Clean, Healthy Cities for Clean, Healthy Seas on Tuesday, September 20 from 15:30 – 16:30 in 201-202
• TS-3.4 Trash Trapping Technologies: Combating Marine Debris, Collecting Data and Raising Awareness on Tuesday, September 20 from 16:45 – 18:15 in 104-105
• TS-8.9 NANCI’s Story: Net Recycling Across Borders on Wednesday, September 21 from 8:30 – 9:30 in 104-105
• TS-8.6 A Best Practice Toolkit for Reducing ALDFG in Aquaculture Operations on Wednesday, September 21 from 9:45 – 10:45 in 101-102
• TS-8.14 Untangling: Innovative Solutions for Species Protection on Thursday, September 22 from 8:30 – 9:30 in 203-204
• TS-5.14 The Tower of Babel: deconstructing the complexity of plastic pollution on Thursday, September 22 from 9:45 – 10:45 in 109-110
• TS-8.12 Zeroing-In on ALDFG Through a Policy Lens on Thursday, September 22 11:00 – 12:00
• TS-7.9 Fostering partnerships to address marine litter in Wider Caribbean Region on Thursday, September 22 from 11:00 – 12:00 in 101-102
• TS-8.5 Connecting Data Reporting, Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Gear Retrieval Protocols on Thursday, September 22 from 13:30 – 15:00 in 203-204
• TS-8.10 Barriers and Opportunities for a Circular Approach to Fishing Gear on Thursday, September 22 from 13:30 – 15:00 in 106-107
• TS-4.6 Volunteer Cleanups during the Era of Covid-19 on Thursday, September 22 from 15:30 – 16:30 in 203-204
• TS-8.8 Technologies and Methodologies for Locating ALDFG in Small-Scale Fisheries on Friday September 23 from 8:30 – 10:00 in 101-102
• ICC Cleanup: Gwangalli Beach starts at 13:30pm with an opening event in Room 301 with the cleanup following at 15:30