About the Program
Alabama and Mississippi Marine Debris Removal and Prevention: Boater Education and Volunteer-based Clean-up Program
This project aims to expand existing community clean-up efforts coordinated by the Alabama and Mississippi NOAA Coastal Sections, launching a tire removal program modeled after the derelict crab-trap removal program and implement educational and teacher-training programs to foster marine debris prevention throughout the states.
A 30 second radio public service announcement will air twice a day for 4 weeks on the consequences of marine debris in daily life. Copies of a marine debris fact sheet, Protecting Your Fishing Waters: Ways to Reduce Derelict Fishing Gear and Other Marine Debris , will be distributed at each of the 20 clean marinas in the Clean Marina program. The Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center (Sea Grant Extension) will coordinate the translation of the brochure into Vietnamese and Spanish. In addition to the brochure 5 gallon buckets with lids will be given away to boaters to encourage responsible waste management. Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium will also participate in the 2005 Coastal Cleanup at 50 sites in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.
This program is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
