Virginia Marine Debris Summit Agenda

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

12:00 - 1:00 Registration, exhibits open

1:00 - 1:35 Welcome and Introduction
                    Ryan Green, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                    Alex Cantwell, Norfolk Botanical Garden
                    Christina Trapani, Clean Virginia Waterways

1:35 - 2:00 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) status overview
                    Will Isenberg, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                    Zach Huntington, Clean Virginia Waterways

2:00 - 3:00 Panel: Abandoned and Derelict Vessels
                    Moderators: Jeff Flood, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                                           Zach Huntington, Clean Virginia Waterways
                    Panelists:      Michael Moore, BoatUS Foundation
                                           Vince Bowhers, Lynnhaven River NOW
                                           Cameron Bruce, W&M VA Coastal Resilience Collaborative

3:00 - 3:30 Break/Networking/Exhibits

3:30 - 4:00 Presentations
                    Kaydyn Ismail, Virginia Beach Environmental Studies Program: "A Day Without Plastic Video Contest"
                    Paige Ernhart, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: "Trash Talking Turtles Back in Action"
                    Josie Anderson, PWSWCD: “The Plastic Pollution Sculpture: from Art to Advocacy" 

4:00 - 4:50  Keynote - Bonnie Monteleone, a dedicated plastic marine debris researcher and the cofounder and executive director of the non-profit, Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. “Is There Hope in Ending Plastic Pollution?"

4:50 - 6:00 Break

6:00 – 9:00 Reception
                     6:30 - 7:30    Speed Dating with the Experts
                     6:00 - 9:00    Partner videos and documentaries
                     6:00 - 9:00    Art Exhibit by Bonnie Monteleone: “What Goes Around, Comes Around”

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

8:00 - 8:30 Registration & Breakfast

8:30 - 8:40 Housekeeping/Announcements

8:40 - 9:30 Keynote - Katie Register, former Executive Director of Clean Virginia Waterways: "30 Years of Marine Debris Reduction in Virginia"

9:35 - 10:30 Concurrent Panel Sessions

      1.  Panel: Abandoned Derelict Fishing Gear                 
                           Moderator: Will Isenberg, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                           Panelists:    Renee Sanders, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
                                              Abigail Clark, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Clean Marina Program
                                               Brent James, Lynnhaven River NOW

     2.  Panel: Microplastics and Microfibers
                            Moderator: Virginia Witmer, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                            Panelists:   Dr. Chris Burbage, Hampton Roads Sanitation District
                                                Dr. Robert Hale, Virginia Institute of Marine Science  
                                                Kaleea Korunka, William and Mary 
                                                Dr. Meredith Seeley,  Virginia Institute of Marine Science                                    

10:30 - 10:40 Break/Networking/Exhibits

10:40 - 11:40 Panel: Consumer Debris Foam Phase Out
                         Moderator: Zach Huntington, Clean Virginia Waterways
                         Panelists:   Katie Cullipher, AskHRGreen.org
                                            Claudia Davis, Oceana  
                                            Elly Boehmer Wilson, Environment Virginia  
                                            Bill Gambrell,  Doc Taylors, Tautogs (Virginia Beach Restaurants)   

11:40 – 12:50 Lunch and Tram Ride
                           12:10 - 12:40 Norfolk Botanical Garden Tram Ride

12:50 - 2:30   Speed Round Presentations
                        * = Student with Travel & Registration Scholarships funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation in
                              cooperation with the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

  • 12:55 -1:06  * Tejaswini Ronur Praful, Old Dominion University: “Understanding Microplastics in Coastal Waters of Hampton Roads in Virginia”

  • 1:07 - 1:18  * Emily Ogawa, Old Dominion University: “Applying a Macro Lens to Microplastics: Modeling Microplastic Ingestion Risk to Humpback Whales in the Mid-Atlantic”

  • 1:19 - 1:30  Elizabeth Wilkins; Jacques van Montfrans, Protect Virginia, York River Group of the Virginia Sierra Club: “Cruise Ships as a Point Source for Marine Microplastic Pollution”

  • 1:31 - 1:42 Lisa Renee Jennings, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, "Transition from Plastic to Basalt Oyster Bags"

  • 1:43 - 1:54  * Charlotte Fowler, Christopher Newport University: “Marine Debris Assessment on Ragged Island”

  • 1:55 - 2:06  * Joi Coleman, Virginia Commonwealth University / Virginia Institute of Marine Science (Clean Marina Program): “Closing the Line”, Monofilament Recycling through VIMS Clean Marina Program” 

  • 2:07 - 2:18 Mike Provost, Vessel Disposal and Reuse Foundation (VDRF): “Virginia’s ADV Dilemma and VDRF's Journey”

  • 2:19 - 2:30  Joseph Barnes, Old Dominion University: “From Learning to Willing to Doing: A Collaborative Approach to Implementing the Virginia Marine Reduction Program”

2:30 - 2:40 Break/Networking/Exhibits

2:40 - 3:30 Deep Dive Breakouts - VMDRP Strategies

Concurrent Sessions

  • 2:40 - 3:30 1.  Prevention, Behavior Change, Education/Outreach
                            Moderator: Christina Trapani, Clean Virginia Waterways
                            Panelists:   Katie Cullipher, AskHRGreen.org
                                               Virginia Witmer, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program  
                                               Will Isenberg, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program  

  • 2:40 - 3:30 2. Proper Disposal & Infrastructure
                            Moderator: Jeff Flood, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                            Panelists:   Cynthia Siebold, Balloon Mission
                                                 Michael Moore, BoatUS Foundation  
                                                 Emily Burton, Fairfax County
                                                 Sydney Thayer, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 

  • 3:35 - 4:25 1.  Policy, Management, Legislation and Enforcement
                             Moderator: Terra Pascarosa, Clean Virginia Waterways
                             Panelists:   Zach Huntington, Clean Virginia Waterways
                                                  Elly Boehmer Wilson, Environment Virginia  
                                                  Karen Forget, Lynnhaven River NOW

  • 3:35 - 4:25 2. Research and Monitoring
                            Moderator: Will Isenburg, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program
                            Panelists:   Christina Trapani, Clean Virginia Waterways
                                                 Noah Tait, Virginia Institute of Marine Science  
                                                 Sarah Weller, Ocean Conservancy

4:30 - 4:35 Wrap up

4:35 - 5:30 Break

5:30 - 9:20 Evening Field Trip: Bus tour to Norfolk Eco District 

  • 5:30 - 6:00 Electric Boat Tour, must provide own transportation to Electrified Marina

  • 5:30 - 6:00 Bus from Hotel to Norfolk Eco District

  • 6:00- 7:00 Tour and Happy Hour at Ryan Resilience Lab and Electrified Marina

  • 7:00 - 9:00 Pizza and VMDRP Trivia at Elation (Read the plan and win prizes!)

  • 9:00 Bus picks up from Elation

  • 9:20 Arrive back at Hotel

Thursday, March 20, 2025

8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast/Exhibits

8:30 - 9:00 Breakout Sessions explained  

9:00 – 10:00 Keynote - Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics- Appointed by President Obama, she served as the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overseeing environmental protection in NY, NJ, 8 Indian Nations, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

10:00 - 10:15 Break/Networking/Exhibits

10:15 - 11:40 VMDRP Breakout groups

  • 10:15 - 11:00  VMDRP Breakout groups Round 1

  • 11:00 - 11:10 Break, move to next session

  • 11:10 - 11:40 VMDRP Breakout groups Round 2

11:45 - 12:30 Wrap Up

1:15 Meet at Commune Restaurant for lunch and then head to Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) for lunch and tour of Duke Riley exhibit.