Yamaha Marine Group launched a marine plastics removal program in support of the Save Our Seas Act (S. 756), which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 25. The Yamaha Marine Plastics Initiative not only endorses the bill, according to the company, but it aims to raise awareness and advocacy for the issue of ocean plastics and for further legislation.
Yamaha said in a statement that the bill aims to strengthen research and international coordination of anti-debris efforts to protect America’s oceans, coastlines and inland waterways. The bipartisan Save Our Seas Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in 2017. It passed the Senate in August 2017 but stalled in the House until this summer.
“Yamaha Marine has supported the Save Our Seas Act from its inception by raising awareness for the bill and encouraging advocacy,” Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha Marine Group, said in the statement. “It is crucial to support our oceans so that we can continue to enjoy our fisheries, our resources and creating memories out on the water.”
The company last week sent a team from its Georgia headquarters to Washington, D.C., to present ideas for the initiative to the offices of Sullivan and Booker and Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.) They also met with Reps. Charles Crist (D-Fla.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) to discuss and refine the program.
“We want to maintain the momentum of the Save Our Seas Act, which speaks to the heart of marine conservation,” said Martin Peters, senior manager, government relations, Yamaha Marine Group. “The Yamaha Marine Plastics Initiative will continue to raise awareness among consumers for the problem of ocean plastics, encourage further bipartisan legislative action and support a plastics removal program that all boaters and anglers can take part in.”
