The Pacific Protection Initiative

Build up of expanded polystyrene in Ballona Creek. Image: California Coastal Commission

Polystyrene bits on the beach. California Coastal Commission.

Compton Creek Clean-up. Image: Heal the Bay.

Non-recyclable expanded polystyrene dominates a Compton cleanup. Image: California Coastal Commission

Trash from a nearby storm drain litters the beach. Photo: Heal the Bay.

Trash in the Los Angeles River. Photo: Heal the Bay

Cerritos Channel littered with plastic trash. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Marine debris can be deadly to marine life. Every year, over one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die due to marine debris worldwide (click images to enlarge). Photo: California Coastal Commission.

Sea lion pup ingesting a plastic bag. Image: Whale Rescue Team

Plastic gut contents of a deceased albatross. Image: California Coastal Commission.

A turtle ingesting plastic. Photo: Ron Prendergast, Melbourne Zoo.

Nurdle spill. Image: Algalita Marine Research Foundation.

Nurdles leaking from a shipment container. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Nurdles on the beach. Image: Algalita Marine Research Foundation

Nurdles flowing in dry weather discharge into a stormdrain catch basin. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Sea lion with fishing hook piercing its mouth. Image: Whale Rescue Team.

Turtle caught in fishing net. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Derelict fishing net entangled on a whale tail.

Removal of derelict fishing gear. Image: WA Department of Fish and Wildlife/NOAA.

Sea gull pierced by fishing hook. Image: California Coastal Commission.

A turtle caught in a derelict (abandoned) fishing net. It is estimated that marine debris kills over 1 million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals, and countless other species of marine life annually. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Crabs caught in derelict trap. Image: Jeff June

Sea lion with fishing net around its neck. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Fur seal entangled in fishing net.

Cormorants entangled in gillnet. Image: California Coastal Commission.

Leslie Tamminen, Heal the Bay's Legislative Director (at podium), overviews the Pacific Protection Initiative at the April 10, 2007 news conference in Sacramento, California as Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, Assembly Members Mike Feuer, Betty Karnette and Paul Krekorian (left to right) listen in. Photo: Heal the Bay

The Pacific Protection Initiative is announced at a news conference at the state capitol building in Sacramento, CA on April 10, 2007. From left: State Senator Joe Simitian, Assembly Members Mike Feuer, Betty Karnette, Paul Krekorian, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and Heal the Bay Legislative Director Leslie Tamminen. Image: Heal the Bay