Call for Speakers: 2025 Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit

NOTE: Abstracts for oral presentations and panels are no longer being accepted. MARCO still invites abstracts for poster presenters at the Summit. 

Submit an Abstract

MARCO invites abstracts for oral presentations, panel discussions, student flash talks, breakout sessions, or posters for the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Marine Debris Summit. The Summit is an excellent opportunity to share your work with audiences including federal, state, and local officials, as well as private sector, non-governmental organizations, and coastal communities.

We invite abstracts that explore innovative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approaches to marine debris, with a particular emphasis on solutions, economic impact, and effective communication.

  1. Large-scale marine debris. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Abandoned or Derelict Vessels (ADV)
    2. Abandoned, Lost, Derelict Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
    3. Coastal Storms
  2. Microplastics. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Environmental and economic implications
    2. Quantification, mapping, and/or modeling
    3. Multi-stressors (e.g., ocean temperature, eutrophication, hypoxia, and acidification)
  3. Marine debris policy. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Local, state, regional, national, and international perspectives
    2. Upstream solutions
  4. Case studies demonstrating the benefits of prevention and removal. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Habitat restoration
    2. Fisheries recovery
    3. Economic revitalization
  5. Community impacts and collaborative solutions. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. The economic and social disruption of marine debris on tourism
    2. Successful partnerships and initiatives to reduce marine debris
    3. Citizen science opportunities
    4. Emerging technologies for monitoring and reducing debris—and their application in improving ocean health
  6. Communicating marine debris science. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Storytelling and narrative approaches
    2. Bridging science and economics for broader impact
    3. Local engagement and community-centered outreach
    4. Use of platforms such as the MARCO Ocean Data Portal and MyCoast to support decision-making and public awareness
  7. Other. Topics may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Topics or approaches not addressed in the categories above
    2. Emerging issues, tools, or case studies that advance understanding or solutions for marine debris
    3. Perspectives that contribute to understanding, preventing, or mitigating marine debris impacts

We especially welcome abstracts that make clear economic connections and demonstrate the power of compelling storytelling.

You may choose more than one track. Indicate on the form if you would like your abstract to be considered for more than one track (i.e., poster and presentation). Applications should be submitted HERE before October 7 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Questions? Contact MARCO staff at events@midatlanticocean.org with email subject line: “Summit abstract”