Alaska Receives Donation for Marine Debris Removal

The state has received a $19,000 donation for marine debris cleanup on Alaska shores.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says the gift is from the Hokkaido Development Engineering Center and members of the International Association of Cold Region Development Studies.

Commissioner Larry Hartig said in a release that the donation is a symbol of the "deep friendship" between the U.S. and Japan. He says it will be put to good use cleaning Alaska's coastline.

Debris from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan has been washing up on the West Coast of North America. It's difficult to distinguish tsunami debris from routine marine debris, though some beach-cleaning groups have reported higher-than-normal volumes of debris and different types of debris than usual in the last two years.