The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard held a hearing on ocean debris from the 2011 Japanese tsunami and the growing problem of ocean debris from all sources.
Debris that entered the ocean after the tsunami in Japan is reaching U.S. coastlines more quickly than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted and the Japanese government estimates about 5 million tons of debris was swept into the ocean, with about 1.5 million tons still afloat.
Among the debris, a commercial fishing boat found floating off the coast of Alaska and a motorcycle that recently washed ashore in Canada.
David Kennedy, NOAA National Ocean Service assistant administrator and Rear Adm. Cari Thomas, U.S. Coast Guard director of response policy, testified before the Subcommittee.