FORKS — The University of Washington’s Olympic Natural Resources Center will host a program on the marine debris washing up on nearby coastal beaches.
The free presentation will be at the center, 1455 S. Forks Ave., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (March 19).
Some of the debris is a result of the tsunami in Japan two years ago.
Nir Barnea, regional lead for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program, will provide an overview of the tsunami’s physical impacts and efforts to track and respond to tsunami debris as it is dispersed across the Pacific Ocean.
Coastal biologist Steve Fradkin from Olympic National Park and resource protection specialist Liam Antrim from NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary will update the audience on the removal of a dock that beached last December on a remote shore within the boundaries of both Olympic National Park and the sanctuary.
They also will present information about other debris resulting from the tsunami and marine debris in general.
The community is invited to bring to the meeting their comments and experiences in finding debris on beaches.
The presenters said they look forward to better understanding the community’s experiences with marine debris.
For more information, phone Ellen Matheny at 360-374-4556 or email ematheny@uw.edu.
