debris in the Wider Caribbean area appear to be on aesthetic 

 quality (particularly on Texas beaches, downwind of major 

 shipping lanes, and on windward sides of island shorelines), 

 and on endangered and threatened sea turtles; and little 

 information is available with which to assess marine debris 

 problems on the west coast of Baja California. 



The authors recommended that: both the North Sea and 

 the Wider Caribbean area be designated as Special Areas under 

 Annex V of MARPOL; international collaboration on regional 

 marine debris related research and management issues be 

 increased; marine debris programs emphasize mitigation efforts 

 with highest priority given to educating particular user 

 groups and developing new ways of disposing of solid wastes; 

 and research efforts focus on filling critical information 

 gaps, evaluating mitigation efforts, monitoring long-term 

 debris trends, and investigating the role of oceanic fronts 

 in concentrating marine debris and magnifying effects on 

 wildlife. 



On 30 September 1988, the Commission provided copies of 

 the report to the U.S. Coast Guard for consideration with 

 respect to deliberations on designating the Gulf of Mexico as 

 a Special Area under Annex V. It suggested that the report 

 be provided for information purposes to other members of the 

 Marine Environment Protection Committee. The Commission also 

 provided copies to the Honolulu Laboratory of the National 

 Marine Fisheries Service to distribute as a background document 

 to participants at the Second International Conference on 

 Marine Debris. In addition, the report was distributed widely 

 among domestic and foreign researchers and organizations 

 working on marine debris problems. 



147 



