Capturing Debris and Inspiring Action Along the Anacostia River neil.mccoy Thu, 12/08/2022 - 11:00

The Anacostia River has a long and important history. Today, the Anacostia River watershed is home to more than 800,000 people, encompassing portions of Washington, DC, and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. Unfortunately, each year hundreds of tons of trash from surrounding lands makes its way into the river. Nearby communities have been working hard to address this problem, and help guide overall reductions in trash and litter entering the river.

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Tags Mid-Atlantic prevention removal education

New Tools for Collecting and Exploring Marine Debris Data neil.mccoy Thu, 11/03/2022 - 11:00

Marine debris is a familiar sight on shorelines around the world, and a reminder that there is still work to be done to tackle this global environmental problem. While we know a lot about marine debris, there are questions that can help test and identify the best solutions. How much marine debris is on our shores? What kind of debris is it, and where does it come from? Are these things changing over time? You can help find the answers through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program Monitoring and Assessment Project! An updated Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.

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Tags MDMAP education outreach shoreline monitoring monitoring Citizen Science

Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! neil.mccoy Mon, 10/17/2022 - 11:00

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 16th. Winning artwork will be featured in our 2024 Marine Debris Calendar!

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The 2023 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! neil.mccoy Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:00

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2023 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from nine states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

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From Ridge to Reef: Protecting Guam’s Marine Life Through Student Efforts Shanelle.Naone Wed, 09/21/2022 - 11:00

With its crystal clear waters and rich coral reefs, Guam is undoubtedly a hidden paradise in the Pacific ocean. It is home to five protected marine preserves teeming with aquatic animals and plants. Everything on the island is connected, from the mountain ridges to the lively reefs, meaning that even the tiniest actions can offset the entire ecosystem. The Ocean Guardian School project at Simon A. Sanchez High School worked together with five other schools across the island to minimize impacts on the ecosystem and reduce potential sources of marine debris.

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Tags prevention education Pacific Islands

The 2022 Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge: How does Marine Debris Impact Lake Erie Wildlife? neil.mccoy Mon, 01/31/2022 - 11:00

In order to help raise awareness of the issue of marine debris in the Great Lakes, we’re excited to be offering the Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge for students in grades 6-12 in coastal Ohio! After learning about marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes, and how we all may be contributing with our trash, students will create marine debris artwork from repurposed trash.

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2022 Marine Debris Calendar is Now Available! neil.mccoy Wed, 09/29/2021 - 11:00

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2022 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

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Marine Debris Trivia at Home Posted Tue, 06/29/2021 - 11:00

Happy Ocean Month! To close out the celebration, we’re exploring Ocean Trivia. Check out these activities, lessons, and resources that use curiosity and inquiry to answer your questions about marine debris.

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Preventing Marine Debris One Cool Earth Strategy at a Time neil.mccoy Thu, 04/29/2021 - 11:00

Students, teachers, and school administrators all have their own parts to play in the vision of One Cool Earth’s Earth Genius marine debris education program in San Luis Obispo, California. This unique educational program partners with schools to incorporate marine debris education, practices, and principles throughout public school systems, from classrooms and cafeterias to school facilities and administration.

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Dive into Citizen Science to Tackle Marine Debris neil.mccoy Tue, 04/20/2021 - 11:00

One of the best things about citizen science is the opportunity to get involved with your local community while making a difference on a broad scale. There are so many impactful projects you can take part in as a citizen scientist, whether you are looking for a long-term commitment to keep a local shoreline clean or want to make a positive impact when doing things you love. Check out these ways to get started.

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Using Citizen Science to Understand Marine Debris neil.mccoy Thu, 04/08/2021 - 11:00

Spring is here! As the temperatures increase and weather improves, many of us are drawn to the outdoors. But what if your trip to the beach could be more than just an enjoyable day? What if you could do scientific research at the same time as a citizen scientist? Opportunities for the public most often come in the form of data collection, but they can also include providing input on questions to investigate, participating in study design, or interpreting and sharing results. Several projects funded through the NOAA Marine Debris Program have tapped into this community resource as well, and committed stewards around the country have contributed invaluable data to monitoring and research projects that support our vision of a sea free of debris.

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Tags Citizen Science education microplastics MDMAP

Food for Thought: Taking A Bite Out of Lunchroom Waste neil.mccoy Thu, 03/11/2021 - 11:00

School cafeterias offer students daily lunch choices, but school-provided meals can generate serious waste. Students in rural northeast Michigan took a closer look at their lunchroom waste as part of a “Food for Thought” project led by the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, and Michigan State University Extension. They performed a lunch waste audit to investigate their lunchroom trash and to brainstorm solutions that prevent plastics from becoming marine debris in the Great Lakes ecosystem.

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The NOAA Marine Debris Program and National Park Service Team Up For Outreach Shanelle.Naone Fri, 09/25/2020 - 11:00

Americans are using their local green space and parks more than ever. Getting outside is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental health. That is why National Public Lands Day feels even more special this year. This day celebrates the connection between people and public lands in their community and encourages environmental stewardship and the use of open space. 

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Locations and Languages: Marine Debris Curricula and Resources from Near and Far NOAA Marine De… Wed, 08/05/2020 - 11:00

As students and teachers prepare for a new year of learning, we are sharing educational marine debris resources that highlight the problem in different locations and different languages. Marine debris is a constant and challenging threat to communities all over the world. It can travel on currents across the ocean, reach remote shorelines where very few people live, and cause major problems for both people and wildlife. No matter where you live, it's important for us all to understand the problem.

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Tags education Southeast Florida & the Caribbean Pacific Islands Alaska Back to School

Turtle Trash Collectors Goes Virtual! Posted Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:51

Many things look different in our world right now: most people are working from home, our favorite restaurants and beaches are closed, and students finished off the school year online. So, where does that leave Turtle Trash Collectors, a University of North Carolina Wilmington MarineQuest outreach program funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program?

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Tags prevention education Southeast

What Do You Know About Talking Trash? Posted Wed, 06/10/2020 - 09:50

People all over the world are concerned about marine debris and they would like to know more about it. The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Communications Team responds to those questions we receive through email, and we’ve seen a trend. Following the National Ocean Services theme of Ocean Trivia for this week, we have created our own marine debris “trivia questions” that we hope you enjoy!

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Tags education prevention removal research emergency response grants microplastics garbage patch

Encouraging Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders Today Posted Wed, 06/03/2020 - 10:58

Locally sourced seafood is particularly important for island communities as they depend on the ocean for food and economic opportunities. This connects the health of the marine environment with overall public health. Such is the case in American Samoa, where local seafood is regularly consumed and where marine debris, including microplastics, has been identified as a priority pollutant.

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Tags education research Pacific Islands

Digital Debris - Learn About Marine Debris Online jennifer.simms Tue, 03/24/2020 - 11:27

You don’t need to live by the coast or the Great Lakes to learn about marine debris. The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) has free activities, videos, and more available online. On the MDP website, there is a dedicated section with resources and activities for all ages, where you can view activity books and browse lesson plans.

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