NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Contract No. HSCG23-07-C-MMS158 between the National Academy of Sciences and the Department of Homeland Security. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Cover: The front cover background image of debris on a beach was provided by Anthony F. Amos of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. The image of the brown boobies on derelict fishing gear was provided by Dr. Dwayne Meadows of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The images of the entangled Hawaiian monk seal and the entangled sea turtle were provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The back cover and chapter-opening image of an abandoned fish trap was provided by Wolcott Henry 2005/Marine Photobank.