Technical proceedings of the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference

The Fifth International Marine Debris Conference (5IMDC) was the first international conference on marine debris in over a decade and the largest gathering devoted to the subject yet convened. The US Government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) partnered to organize the conference. The organizers envisioned the 5IMDC as an inclusive, multidisciplinary event that would heighten global appreciation of threats posed by marine debris, highlight advances in research, and encourage sharing of strategies and best practices leading to collaborative solutions. The conference brought together an international group of marine debris researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers, industry representatives, the non-governmental community, artists, filmmakers, and students. Over 450 participants traveled from 38 nations to attend the 5IMDC, where they learned from the original research, unique experiences, and diverse perspectives of over 170 conference presenters.