Are you concerned about global plastic marine pollution? Utilize our Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP).
Marine debris is one of the top concerns for ocean health today and it is getting worse. The impacts of debris in the environment can be devastating. As public awareness increases, a common response to help reduce the damage is participating in, or leading beach cleanups.
Beyond beach cleanups, COI’s goal is to improve plastic pollution assessment. Marine debris monitoring programs are necessary to compare debris sources, amounts, locations, and international distribution. This type of data will provide insight into the location of problem areas and possibly lead to future policy changes.
Combining beach cleanups and plastic debris monitoring, COI’s Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) easily gathers data to illustrate the changes in type and quantity between different regions over time. EPAP quantifies and classifies environmental plastic which allows local residents to determine sources of plastic pollution and monitor efforts to improve local waste management capability and usage. COI’s EPAP is designed to be simple enough for two or more volunteers to complete in 1-2 hours per month. The results can be stored in COI's EPAP database where the information and trends can be easily accessed.
We kindly request your support for our upcoming spring 2024 Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP). We invite you to join our campaign and make a valuable contribution towards our goal of raising $70K. Your generous donation will go towards crucial aspects such as citizen scientist field training, webpage development, survey materials, and administrative expenses, as well as help clean beaches and enhance the understanding of plastic waste patterns and sources. To allocate the funds for EPAP, please enter “EPAP” in the Message of Support dialog box on our donation page.
For more information about EPAP, please read the EPAP Training Guide and EPAP Field Data Sheet and watch our short instructional video (coming soon). To learn more about how to volunteer and adopt a beach, please contact David Schwartz, COI Education Director at davids@cointl.org
Beyond beach cleanups, COI’s goal is to improve plastic pollution assessment. Marine debris monitoring programs are necessary to compare debris sources, amounts, locations, and international distribution. This type of data will provide insight into the location of problem areas and possibly lead to future policy changes.
Combining beach cleanups and plastic debris monitoring, COI’s Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) easily gathers data to illustrate the changes in type and quantity between different regions over time. EPAP quantifies and classifies environmental plastic which allows local residents to determine sources of plastic pollution and monitor efforts to improve local waste management capability and usage. COI’s EPAP is designed to be simple enough for two or more volunteers to complete in 1-2 hours per month. The results can be stored in COI's EPAP database where the information and trends can be easily accessed.
We kindly request your support for our upcoming spring 2024 Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP). We invite you to join our campaign and make a valuable contribution towards our goal of raising $70K. Your generous donation will go towards crucial aspects such as citizen scientist field training, webpage development, survey materials, and administrative expenses, as well as help clean beaches and enhance the understanding of plastic waste patterns and sources. To allocate the funds for EPAP, please enter “EPAP” in the Message of Support dialog box on our donation page.
For more information about EPAP, please read the EPAP Training Guide and EPAP Field Data Sheet and watch our short instructional video (coming soon). To learn more about how to volunteer and adopt a beach, please contact David Schwartz, COI Education Director at davids@cointl.org
Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) at Cabrillo College
In collaboration with Professor David Schwartz, former Chair of the Geology, Oceanography, and Environmental Science departments at Cabrillo College, COI developed a training course on field survey tools and techniques. This course equipped individuals to accurately describe and document localized plastic pollution on a global scale. Over the course of 8 years, Cabrillo College Oceanography and Environmental Science students learned to document the amount and types of plastic on our beaches using COI’s protocol. In addition, students were able to practice basic field assessment and data recording.
Field Survey Program
Our Environmental Plastic Assessment Program (EPAP) serves as a preliminary step for communities aiming to reduce their plastic footprint. COI developed this manual survey process to systematically document the types and quantities of plastic debris found in specific areas.
Action to reduce plastic pollution is critical at this point in history. However, it is critically important to assess each situation before starting in order to see the change we strive to achieve. EPAP quantifies and classifies environmental plastic which allows residents to determine sources of plastic pollution and monitor efforts to improve local waste management capability and usage.
Our goal is to invite schools, businesses, environmental organizations, and the public to “adopt a beach” and conduct surveys using COI’s EPAP protocol. To learn more, please contact David Schwartz at davids@cointl.org.
Action to reduce plastic pollution is critical at this point in history. However, it is critically important to assess each situation before starting in order to see the change we strive to achieve. EPAP quantifies and classifies environmental plastic which allows residents to determine sources of plastic pollution and monitor efforts to improve local waste management capability and usage.
Our goal is to invite schools, businesses, environmental organizations, and the public to “adopt a beach” and conduct surveys using COI’s EPAP protocol. To learn more, please contact David Schwartz at davids@cointl.org.
Fantastic Results
The program has evolved through 16 semesters of trial and sharing with other organizations and school programs in ocean-centric communities. Multiple students from these trainings have become volunteers for COI. For some, the experience has set them on a path to become our instructors at home and internationally.
Our objective is to supply proficient instructors who can teach our program to partner communities, facilitating localized plastic monitoring worldwide with minimal expenses. For any plastic reduction program to be effective, it must have a comparative baseline from which to define progress.
Our objective is to supply proficient instructors who can teach our program to partner communities, facilitating localized plastic monitoring worldwide with minimal expenses. For any plastic reduction program to be effective, it must have a comparative baseline from which to define progress.
EPAP Field Expeditions
Since 2012, EPAP has been established across numerous locations. Our comprehensive data is showcased on our database (presently undergoing remodeling) offering insights into the distribution and composition of plastics identified.
- Monterey Bay Region: 2012 - Present
- Albany Beach (SF Bay): 2015 - Present
- Ulithi Atoll: 2016
- Cuba: 2017
- Lake Tahoe & Oregon: 2018