Join Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant educators and learn about the Trawl to Trash initiative and ways of incorporating the issue and latest science of marine debris into your classroom or informal learning experiences. Formal and informal educators welcome!
In an effort to prevent litter from entering the marine environment, Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant launched the Trawl to Trash program, which engages the public in outreach and stewardship activities that educate communities about the impacts of marine debris and encourage use of the recycled trawl bags to collect and remove debris from Georgia’s waterways. As part of the project, commercial shrimpers are creating Trawl to Trash bags made of recycled shrimp net material. The bags are distributed among recreational boaters, fishermen, outdoor enthusiasts, ecotourists, K-12 students and the general public who use the bags to stow their trash, so it doesn’t enter the environment.
Participants will engage in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of marine debris and its impacts, including a trawl on the R/V Sea Dawg, a Trawl to Trash bag making activity, a micro-plastics lab, and a sea turtle “necropsy” activity. Educators will leave with information they can take back to their classrooms.
Registration is required. Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is able to provide Trawl to Trash Programs thanks to support from the National Sea Grant College Program.
