Partner Descriptions — Prevent Balloon Litter

Partners

The committment of our partners to help monitor and reduce balloon litter through research, education, clean-ups and/or other programming is described below:.

Also see our Sponsors below.

The Virginia Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program is a network of Virginia state agencies and local governments, led by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The Progam’s mission is to protect, restore, and strengthen our coastal ecosystems and economy. Virginia CZM is 100% funded by NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management. Design and maintenance of this website is funded by grants from NOAA to the VIrginia CZM at DEQ.

A program of Longwood University, Clean Virginia Waterways is dedicated to increasing citizen stewardship of Virginia's water resources, and to studying and educating about the effects of litter on the environment. Since 1995, CVW has coordinated the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup in Virginia. CVW receives grants from the Virginia CZM Program to coordinate state-wide, collaborative efforts to reduce land and water-based marine debris. CVW helped to design and will continue to work with the Virginia CZM Program to enhance PreventBalloonLitter.org.

“Coastal management” is a term that covers the decisions and actions taken to keep the natural environment, built environment, quality of life, and economic prosperity of our coastal areas in balance. The federal Coastal Zone Management Act is the guiding legislation, and NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is the federal agency tasked with implementation through a voluntary partnership with coastal and Great Lakes states and US territories. State CZM receive funding through the CZMA to focus on issues such as marine debris.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is the U.S. Federal government's lead for addressing marine debris. The mission of the NOAA Marine Debris Program is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris.

Established in 2009 by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean provides a forum for coastal Mid-Atlantic states to collaborate on shared regional priorities related to marine habitats, renewable offshore energy, climate change adaptation, and ocean water quality (including collaborative projects to reduce marine debris). MARCO initiated and oversees the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal to assist the region with ocean planning efforts.

The New York Ocean Action Plan is a joint effort of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Department of State. Through the work of these agencies and partners, this 61-action plan promotes a healthy, resilient ocean through sound stewardship and sustainable human use.

New York Ocean focuses on education and outreach for all New Yorkers around their ocean environment. It is made possible through a partnership between New York Sea Grant and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Funding is provided from the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the NYSDEC.

New York Sea Grant is a statewide network of integrated research, education, and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the state’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network.

The American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same. Since 1961 we have empowered people to care for the coast through advocacy, conservation, and education. Our “Champions of the Coast” program encourages beach communities to adopt ordinances to prohibit the intentional release of balloons.

The mission of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research and sustainable practices. We are committed to being a conservation leader to conserve wild animals and habitats. The Aquarium is confronting today’s environmental challenges through actions in order to model an institutional pathway to a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable future. Our research includes monitoring marine debris, including balloon-related litter, and its impacts on marine wildlife.

Virginia Coastal Alliance brings together organizations to protect the Virginia coast from seismic testing, offshore drilling and single-use plastics.

The Environmental Protection Agency, established in 1970, is an independent executive agency, of the United States federal government with the mission to protect human health and the environment.

Ocean Conservancy is working to protect the ocean from today's greatest global challenges investing in research, leadership and advocacy that advances science-based solutions that work. Ocean Conservancy has been at the forefront of the trash free seas challenge for more than 30 years through its International Coastal Cleanup and Trash Free Seas® program.

The Vermilion Sea Institute fosters sustainable and enriching relationships between human societies and the ecosystems that support them. Scientists, conservationists, educators, and students make extensive use of the VSI's field stations in Norte de Baja California, Mexico: the Vermilion Sea Field Station on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, and the historic Rancho San Gregorio located in a canyon on the Baja California peninsula.

Plastics|SA (South Africa) is committed to cleaning up the environment and removing plastic litter from the county’s rivers, streams and neighbourhoods, and coordinates the country’s participation in the International Coastal Cleanup and Recycle SA Week.

OSEAN (Our Sea of East Asia Network) is a South Korean non-profit organization aiming to reduce marine debris in East Asia and the Pacific by linking citizens and science through research, education, policy development, and international cooperation. OSEAN offers an educational kit on marine debris for Korean fishermen and an activity book for elementary school level children on marine debris. OSEAN is an active member of the Global Partnership On Marine Litter (GPML), East Asia Civil Forum on Marine Litter, and the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup.

Lynnhaven River NOW works with residents, businesses, faith communities, schools, and community leaders to restore and protect the waterways of Virginia Beach, VA. Lynnhaven River NOW supports educational and legislative efforts to reduce intentional balloon releases and other forms of litter that become marine debris.

Save Our Shores is the leading marine ecosystem conservation organization on California's central coast. Our mission is to steward clean shores, healthy habitats and living waters and foster a thriving coastal environments. We work to drive positive change through awareness, advocacy and action. One of our primary advocacy focused efforts is ocean plastic pollution mitigation and we are in the middle of what we call our Sinister Six campaign. Balloons are one of our sinister six targets.

Keep Buckroe Beach Clean is a citizens group advocating for a litter free Buckroe Beach in Hampton, VA. Part of the litter we find are balloons! We understand that balloons are harmful to marine life causing death amoung many sea creatures. We are happy to partner with Prevent Balloon Litter to stop balloons from being released into the environment.

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. DNREC shares this commitment in partnership with all residents to protect, enhance and enjoy the natural world every day and encourage all Delawareans to work with their environmental agency to ensure sustainability of our natural resources for future generations.

The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary conserves birds of prey worldwide by providing leadership in raptor conservation science and education, and by maintaining the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, Pennsylvania, USA as a model observation, research and education facility.

Sustainable Seas Trust is a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) that supports and connects communities across Africa hrough research, education, enterprise development and growing awareness about ocean conservation and plastic pollution.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia is a teaching and research hospital for native wildlife, teaching the world to care about and to care for wildlife and the environment. Each year, the Center receives more than 3,000 wild animals in need from locations throughout Virginia. The Center's veterinary team works to treat these animals to restore them to health and release them back in the wild. The conservation themes in the Center's outreach and education efforts are drawn directly from the stories of the thousands of wild animals that arrive at the Wildlife Center’s doorstep every year in need of care. The stories of these animals illustrate the wider problems wildlife face — litter, pesticides, free-roaming domestic animals, habitat loss, and diseases – and challenge people of all ages to take action to protect wildlife.

The Marine Conservation Society fights for the future of our ocean through people-powered action – with science on our side. We defend habitats and species, with communities, businesses and governments. Together, we work towards a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean. For seas full of life, where nature flourishes and people thrive.

The mission at Keep Virginia Beautiful is to engage and unite Virginians to improve our natural and scenic environment. We believe in a shared responsibility to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities. We empower groups and individuals to engage in environmental projects through grants, contests, events and training so that the collective effort keeps Virginia beautiful for generations to come.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a non-profit sea turtle hospital that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. LMC is dedicated to ocean conservation efforts specifically through education, conservation, and research efforts of LMC staff and volunteers. By partnering with municipalities across approximately 130 miles of South Florida coastline, LMC's Balloon Ban Initiative helps to proactively reduce marine debris in some of the most densely-nested sea turtle nesting habitat in the country.

The Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to promoting conservation and understanding of marine ecosystems through scientific research, environmental education, and marine wildlife response. MERS formed in order to bring together existing marine research and education projects as well as to provide a platform from which to conduct further work. Their team is comprised of marine biologists and educators highly dedicated to marine conservation. While based on Canada's west coast, team members have worked in many countries and oceans.

The National Aquarium connects people with nature to drive conservation action for the benefit of people, animals and the planet. The National Aquarium’s mission—to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures—begins within the walls of our buildings, but it does not end there. We protect, enhance and restore natural resources through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue and sustainable business practices

Designated in 1991, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA) is one of 29 protected areas that make up the National Estuarine Research Reserve System established to promote informed management of the nation's estuaries and coastal habitats. CBNERRS-VA cultivates science-based and community-supported resource management through innovative stewardship and promotion of socioecological resilience.

Watershed Action Alliance of Southeastern Massachusetts works to protect and improve the health of the waterways and watersheds of southeastern Massachusetts to benefit people, wildlife and the environment.

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council, a mayoral appointed board, promotes improving the environment of Chesapeake, Virginia toward a greener, cleaner, and healthier city, with activities such as litter and pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling, beautification and conservation landscaping.

The Chesapeake Humane Society promotes the welfare of companion animals through programs and initiatives that reduce pet overpopulation, increase adoptions, and encourage responsible pet guardianship through affordable pet care. The Society has several initiatives to educate our community on the importance of a healthy environment, advocating for wildlife, and although it's not a Society program, they have a wildlife rehabilitator on staff. The Society also advocates for tighter legislation on balloon releases.

Chesapeake Green Drinks is open to the public to network on environmental topics, including a monthly speaker. The group partners with the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council on quarterly community cleanups.