Gulf of Alaska Keeper (GoAK) is a nonprofit with the mission to protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the ecological integrity, wilderness quality, and productivity of Prince William Sound and the North Gulf Coast of Alaska. As a citizen-run organization, GoAK works with other user groups to promote conservation, education, environmental research and monitoring, pollution prevention, and protection of public access. GoAK actively pursues opportunities for direct land preservation and habitat restoration and seeks to advance the area’s environmental and biological importance as well its value as a recreational and cultural resource.

One of GoAK’s goals is the removal of marine debris in Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska shoreline through the coordinated efforts of volunteers and funded activities. With the advent of the industrial era, marine debris has swirled around our oceans and washing indiscriminately onto beaches worldwide, creating environmental hazards and unsightly additions. Alaska has not been exempt from this process

While GoAK’s initial scope was limited to the beach regions around Whittier, Alaska, the even higher prevalence of marine debris in remote locations has prompted GoAK to expand its operations. As GoAK has looked towards the coast, the effects of global ocean circulation patterns become more apparent with the increased density of marine debris on the ocean-facing coasts of the Gulf of Alaska. However, the very nature of the exposed Gulf beaches to the mercy of the open ocean creates a formidable environment in which to access and remove the ever-present marine debris.

Even as GoAK expands its beach cleanup activities farther from Whittier, Alaska, continued emphasis has been placed on both cleaning and maintaining the beaches within beautiful Prince William Sound through annual volunteer cleanups and partnership with local users. We may not be able to eliminate the source of the marine debris, but through volunteer and funded efforts, GoAK is committed to doing our part in tackling this global problem -- starting in our own local Alaskan waters.