If you’ve worked on removing abandoned vessels, developing recycling solutions for fiberglass or shrinkwrap, or building programs to prevent boating-related debris, the BoatUS Foundation wants to hear from you.
June 1 is the deadline to apply as a speaker at the 2026 Turning the Tide Summit. Interested presenters can apply online.
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The summit is set for Dec. 6-9 in New Orleans and organizers say it will bring together government agencies, marine professionals, environmental experts, and waste management leaders from across the country to share best practices, emerging technologies, and innovative programs for the responsible removal and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.
The BoatUS Foundation is specifically seeking speakers with experience in the following fields:
- Abandoned and derelict vessel removal and vessel turn-in programs.
- Sustainable disposal and recycling solutions for abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.
- Initiatives or programs focused on preventing abandoned and derelict vessels and boating-related debris.
The summit is open to attendees beyond just speakers. Environmental experts, boating and waste industry leaders, and policymakers are all encouraged to participate. Programming will include panel discussions, keynote addresses, and resources focused on abandoned and derelict vessels and sustainable disposal solutions for boating-related waste, including fiberglass and shrinkwrap.
The Turning the Tide Summit is part of the BoatUS Foundation’s broader ADV Program, which aims to remove abandoned and derelict vessels from the nation’s coastal waters and the Great Lakes. The program is also developing a national database to track abandoned and derelict vessel locations and monitor the removal progress. Both the summit and the broader program are supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
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