Who We Are

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program is a United States Government agency. We were established by Congress in 2006 through the Marine Debris Act and are a program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a division of the Office of Response and Restoration. 

We are the United States Government’s lead for addressing marine debris. Our mission is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris and we do this through our six main pillars: Prevention, Removal, Research, Monitoring and Detection, Response, and Coordination. Discover more about marine debris.

2026 marks 20 years of the NOAA Marine Debris Program! With the help of our partners, the marine debris community, students, teachers, and families, the NOAA Marine Debris Program supports work around the United States that benefits the environment, the economy, and navigational safety. Marine debris is a global problem and we can all be a part of the solution. We look forward to a future where, with your help, our global ocean and its coasts are free from the impacts of marine debris. Learn more about this history of the program, some of the impactful projects, and notable accomplishments. 

Prevention

By preventing marine debris, we can keep our trash from ever entering our ocean, waterways, and Great Lakes. We support projects that prevent marine debris through outreach and education by providing hands-on experiences that address common sources of marine debris. Learn more about our prevention efforts.

Removal

We support removal projects across the United States. From local shoreline cleanups to the removal of large abandoned vessels, these projects benefit coastal habitats, waterways, and wildlife. Since 2006, NOAA has supported over 360 marine debris projects and removed more than 45,000 metric tons of marine debris from our coasts, ocean, and Great Lakes. Learn more about our removal efforts.  

Research

We support projects that help to increase our understanding of the impacts of marine debris to commercial seafood species, whether exposure to plastics and chemicals can harm wildlife, how marine debris is transported and where it ends up, and the economic impacts of debris. Learn more about our research efforts. 

Monitoring and Detection

We work to improve our understanding of the scope, scale, and distribution of marine debris in the environment. Through the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project, the Marine Debris Program provides tools and resources for standardized data collection and empowers citizen scientists and local efforts. We are also harnessing and facilitating the use of emerging remote sensing technologies and techniques for marine debris detection. Learn more about our marine debris monitoring efforts. 

Response

Disasters that impact the United States coast can be an overwhelming source of marine debris. We prepare for severe  weather and other disaster events by supporting regionally-focused emergency response planning efforts and coordinating with partners during an event. Learn more about our response efforts. 

Coordination

The NOAA Marine Debris Program supports local marine debris initiatives through coordination in eleven regions across the United States, including territories in the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean. We also support key international partnerships, provide input to collaborative research, and support other organizations and governments to reduce marine debris globally. Find your Marine Debris Program region and learn more about our work internationally.