The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program is the United States Government’s lead for addressing the impacts of marine debris on our ocean, waterways, and Great Lakes. We work with organizations around the United States and globally to prevent marine debris from entering the environment, remove it from coastal areas, better understand the problem through research and shoreline monitoring, and respond to debris created by disasters. Learn more about the Marine Debris Program here. 

A blue boat is held upright on top of a dock by a crane while two workers in hard hats stand by.

A Shared Mission for a Cleaner Gulf Coast

Communities throughout the Gulf Coast are coming together to clean up their local waters. With support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program, the Gulf of America Alliance is working in coordination with state and local partners on a large-scale, multi-state initiative to remove derelict vessels and restore coastal health and safety. Over the course of four years, vessels are being removed across the Gulf Coast, with recent removals taking place in Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Marine Debris Program Regions

In this section, you can find state or region-specific information on current marine debris projects and activities. Marine debris impacts every U.S. coastal state and territory. In order to address it, the NOAA Marine Debris Program positions coordinators around the country to provide local expertise and guidance to marine debris stakeholders.