n the late 1990’s, a small, dedicated group of citizens became alarmed at the increasing amount of plastics, derelict fishing gear, styrofoam, and other marine debris that is collecting in “pristine” Prince William Sound.

Beginning in 2001, small-scale local cleanups in Prince William Sound (PWS) were initiated successfully out of Whittier, Alaska. During the following 5 seasons, volunteers worked eastward from Whittier, cleaning approximately 70 miles of sensitive coastal habitat.

Discovering more and more debris-choked beaches and faced with the daunting task of cleaning more than 3500 miles of shoreline in Prince William Sound alone, the non-profit Gulf of Alaska Keeper (GoAK) formed in 2005 to expand and fund the program.