November is National Native American Heritage Month

4 months 1 week ago
November is National Native American Heritage Month Posted Wed, 11/15/2023 - 13:51

November is National Native American Heritage Month

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to collaborate with multiple tribal partners in efforts to remove marine debris from our waterways and empower the communities that work to reduce the impacts of marine debris on our shores. Through our grant programs, regional action plans, and community-building efforts, NOAA’s Marine Debris Program strives to bring together the many groups that tirelessly work to reduce the impacts of marine debris. In celebration of our rich ancestral heritage, this month we are highlighting some active projects that work with or are led by native communities. Learn more about each of the projects and the impacts of marine debris on native communities! 

Tags removal Alaska derelict fishing gear derelict crab pots
madison.piascik

All In: How a Coastal Community in Alaska Comes Together to Tackle Marine Debris

1 year 5 months ago
All In: How a Coastal Community in Alaska Comes Together to Tackle Marine Debris Shanelle.Naone Tue, 10/25/2022 - 11:00

The Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island Tribal Government has been actively tackling marine debris issues over the last two decades to protect the marine ecosystem around St. Paul Island. St. Paul Island is part of the Pribilof Islands, which are centrally situated in the eastern Bering Sea in Alaska. The waters surrounding the Pribilof Islands support globally significant populations of marine mammals and birds, and are also central to some of the most valuable commercial fisheries in the world. The St. Paul Island community comprises approximately 350-400 residents, all of whom are deeply connected to the marine ecosystem and act as critical environmental stewards for their home.

Tags removal prevention Alaska
Shanelle.Naone

A Different Kind of Remote Work - Zooming in on Marine Debris in Alaska

1 year 5 months ago
A Different Kind of Remote Work - Zooming in on Marine Debris in Alaska Shanelle.Naone Wed, 10/05/2022 - 11:00

When people think of Alaska, many images may come to mind: jagged mountains, majestic glaciers, rugged shorelines, rich and diverse wildlife and habitats, and vast wilderness. Its position in the North Pacific makes it home to some of the most productive and critical fisheries in the United States, and the world. This same position, combined with its vast scale, ocean current, wind patterns, and the growing maritime transport and fishing activity in near and distant waters, also means huge amounts of marine debris arrive on Alaskan shorelines every year. Fortunately, there is an active, innovative, and dedicated community of individuals and organizations working on the issue across the state of Alaska, ranging from the islands off of Southeast Alaska north to the Chukchi Sea.

Tags Alaska removal prevention
Shanelle.Naone

Katmai Coast Cleanup

2 years 9 months ago
Katmai Coast Cleanup Shanelle.Naone Thu, 06/24/2021 - 11:00

The Ocean Plastics Recovery Project, in partnership with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, will lead a team of scientists, students, artists, and plastics recycling and recovery experts on the first of several marine debris cleanup expeditions to Katmai National Park in Alaska. Collectively, the cleanups, planned for 2021-2022, will be the largest marine debris removal effort in Katmai to date and has the goal to remove over 25 tons of ocean plastics from the marine environment and improve approximately 500 acres of coastal habitat for the salmon, bears, and all wild inhabitants of the 4,000,000-acre park.

Tags Alaska removal
Shanelle.Naone

Tackling Marine Debris in "The Last Frontier"

2 years 9 months ago
Tackling Marine Debris in "The Last Frontier" Shanelle.Naone Tue, 06/22/2021 - 11:00

The name Alaska comes from the Aleut alaxsxaq meaning “the mainland,” or more specifically “the object towards which the action of the sea is directed.” Alaska’s position relative to ocean, wind, and current patterns combined with the significant and growing amounts of maritime transport and fishing activity in the surrounding waters, means that huge amounts of marine debris are directed onto Alaskan shores every year. Fortunately, there is an active, dedicated, and innovative community of individuals and organizations working on and responding to the issue of marine debris in the state.

Tags Alaska removal prevention
Shanelle.Naone

Lives and Livelihoods Disrupted by Marine Debris

2 years 9 months ago
Lives and Livelihoods Disrupted by Marine Debris neil.mccoy Mon, 06/07/2021 - 11:00

For some, marine debris may simply be an unsightly inconvenience, but for many people around the world it is a critical problem that can affect all aspects of life. This is particularly true for indigenous communities, whose deep understanding of and reliance on the natural environment and ocean, for subsistence, cultural connection, recreation, and economic opportunities, makes them especially aware of the damaging effects of marine debris. Community regional expertise on the impacts of marine debris and nuanced relationships with the environment shape many NOAA Marine Debris Program-supported projects around the country.

Tags Alaska Pacific Islands Pacific Northwest removal prevention
neil.mccoy

Community-Driven Activities Create a Strong Foundation for Successful Marine Debris Campaigns in Alaska

3 years 4 months ago
Community-Driven Activities Create a Strong Foundation for Successful Marine Debris Campaigns in Alaska Shanelle.Naone Tue, 11/24/2020 - 11:00

The Pribilof Islands are among the most unique and important places in the world. Three of the five islands making up the Pribilof Islands are uninhabited, but two of the largest islands, St. George and St. Paul Islands, host vibrant communities that are predominantly Unangax̂/Unangan. However, these communities have long shouldered the burdensome and overwhelming responsibility of removing tens of thousands of tons of debris, much of which originates far from the communities themselves. Because of the multitude of threats resulting from marine debris pollution that constantly accumulates on the coastlines of St. George and St. Paul, these communities have developed and expanded locally-driven marine debris prevention and removal efforts.

Tags Alaska removal
Shanelle.Naone

Partnering with Native Communities to Take On Marine Debris

3 years 4 months ago
Partnering with Native Communities to Take On Marine Debris Shanelle.Naone Thu, 11/12/2020 - 10:00

Indigenous communities have a deep understanding of and relationship with the natural environment, which has fostered expert and nuanced traditional ecological knowledge, and shaped cultural practices and identity. NOAA recognizes the importance of indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge for understanding the environment, adapting to environmental change, and improving the health of environments that we all depend on. The Marine Debris Program (MDP) is proud to work with indigenous communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to understand and reduce the impacts of marine debris through projects that prevent and remove marine debris. 

Tags Pacific Northwest Alaska removal prevention
Shanelle.Naone

Cleaning up Alaska’s Maybeso Estuary for Salmon and People

3 years 6 months ago
Cleaning up Alaska’s Maybeso Estuary for Salmon and People Shanelle.Naone Tue, 09/22/2020 - 11:00

Wild salmon still thrive in Southeast Alaska. Every year, they return to clean free flowing rivers to spawn, and in doing so, they support the bears, eagles, and the commercial and subsistence fishers of the region. As they grow into juveniles these baby salmon fry drop from their natal streams into brackish estuaries that act as nurseries for them to grow in. But what’s a salmon to do if their estuary is clogged with abandoned trucks, sinking boats, and logging refuse? 

Tags Alaska removal
Shanelle.Naone

Locations and Languages: Marine Debris Curricula and Resources from Near and Far

3 years 7 months ago
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.

Tags education Southeast Florida Pacific Islands Alaska Back to School Caribbean
NOAA Marine Debris Program

The Economic Benefits of Marine Debris Prevention and Removal

3 years 8 months ago
The Economic Benefits of Marine Debris Prevention and Removal jennifer.simms Tue, 07/07/2020 - 11:32

Marine debris can be dangerous for wildlife, damage sensitive habitats, and create safety and navigation hazards. But did you know that marine debris can also hurt the economies of coastal communities and decrease commercial fishing revenue? Marine debris can keep tourists away from beaches, compete with active fishing gear and reduce commercial catches, and cost small businesses money.

Tags Great Lakes ghost fishing derelict fishing gear prevention removal Mid-Atlantic Alaska Southeast California Gulf of Mexico
jennifer.simms

Continuing a Legacy of Stewardship Along Our Shorelines

4 years 2 months ago
Continuing a Legacy of Stewardship Along Our Shorelines jennifer.simms Thu, 01/09/2020 - 08:17

Historically, the tribal community of St. Paul Island, Alaska, would walk the shorelines of our island to remove debris, such as driftwood and animal bones from the beaches, ensuring that the summer homes of laaqudan, or Northern Fur Seals, were clean and accessible.

Tags Alaska
jennifer.simms

Creating Change through Youth in Alaskan Communities

4 years 10 months ago
Creating Change through Youth in Alaskan Communities Posted Tue, 05/21/2019 - 23:57

Bottles, bags, plastic foam trays: single-use plastic has become an everyday part of peoples’ lives, and a common sight on beaches around Alaska. Cleaning debris off of beaches can only get to part of the mess, and only serve as part of the solution, especially in Alaska, where there are over 44,000 miles of often dangerous and difficult to access coastline. To address the issue further we have to slow the stream of plastic into a state where plastic is easy to come by, but difficult to deal with.

Tags Alaska prevention
Shanelle.Naone

Taking on Debris with Innovation and Determination in Alaska

4 years 10 months ago
Taking on Debris with Innovation and Determination in Alaska Posted Fri, 05/17/2019 - 21:03

The word “Alaska” may bring to mind images of snowy mountains, icy glaciers, dogsleds, snow-machines, isolated cabins, fishing boats, and amazing wildlife. While those are all things you can find in “The Great Land,” Alaska is also a place where marine debris is an especially impactful and challenging problem.

Tags Alaska removal
Shanelle.Naone

Disposal Challenges in the Bering Sea

5 years 3 months ago
Disposal Challenges in the Bering Sea Posted Fri, 12/21/2018 - 09:31

Today is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. For Unalakleet, on Alaska’s Bering Sea coast, this means barely more than four hours of sunlight. The small, remote communities that dot Alaska’s coastline and Bering Sea islands can be as harsh as they are beautiful. The Marine Debris Program has partners in these regions that are hardy and hard-working, but marine debris can still be a huge challenge. The remoteness of these places and the severe weather means that disposing of the debris is one of the biggest issues. We talked to partners in three Bering Sea communities about what happens to the debris once it’s removed from the ocean and shoreline.

Tags Alaska
alexis.thorbecke

Marine Debris Work with Alaskan Native Communities

6 years 4 months ago
Marine Debris Work with Alaskan Native Communities Posted Wed, 11/15/2017 - 11:00

In celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration’s Marine Debris Program and Assessment and Restoration Division are highlighting collaboration with native communities, nations, and peoples.

Native communities and their in-depth knowledge of local history and conditions are essential for addressing marine debris in Alaska. A large proportion of Alaska’s coast is remote, so addressing debris can be difficult. Native peoples often have specific knowledge and experience that are important for marine debris efforts in these areas and the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is proud and grateful to have worked with Alaskan Native organizations on several marine debris projects.

Tags Alaska
krista.e.stegemann

Beach Cleanup… Then What? Debris Disposal in Alaska

6 years 6 months ago
Beach Cleanup… Then What? Debris Disposal in Alaska Posted Thu, 09/28/2017 - 12:00

By: Peter Murphy, Alaska Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program

Alaska is characterized by its rugged beauty, remote wilderness, and sheer size. These facts also play a significant role in the issue of marine debris in the state. With so much coastline, Alaska receives a huge amount of debris every year from both local sources and places across the Pacific Rim. “Catcher beaches,” where the shape and character of the coastline interacts with weather and ocean patterns to deposit huge amounts of debris, are often remote and can accumulate as much as 10-20 tons of debris per mile. Cleaning up debris in these areas can be difficult, but Alaskans are up to the task, using landing craft, helicopters, and good old-fashioned hard work and Alaskan ingenuity to remove debris in rugged and challenging conditions. 

The real trick actually begins once the debris is off the beach.

Tags Alaska
krista.e.stegemann

Addressing Marine Debris in Alaska

6 years 6 months ago
Addressing Marine Debris in Alaska krista.e.stegemann Tue, 09/26/2017 - 11:00

Meet Peter Murphy, the Alaska Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Reach out to Peter at peter.murphy@noaa.gov!

Alaska is a beautiful and unique place. Unfortunately, like much of the country, this area is plagued by marine debris. Addressing this issue can be challenging considering Alaska has an extensive and rugged coastline, much of which is remote and difficult to access. Thankfully, there are many people out there who are working hard to address the marine debris problem in this region. Check out some of the projects funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program that are working to prevent and remove debris in Alaska.

Tags Alaska
krista.e.stegemann

Sea Kayak Marine Debris Cleanup: Restoring Wilderness Shorelines in the Gulf of Alaska

7 years 4 months ago
Sea Kayak Marine Debris Cleanup: Restoring Wilderness Shorelines in the Gulf of Alaska krista.e.stegemann Tue, 11/08/2016 - 12:49

By: Tom Pogson, Guest Blogger and Director of Education, Outreach, and Marine Programs for Island Trails Network

Even though Shuyak Island State Park is a remote wilderness island in the northern Gulf of Alaska, it has been heavily impacted by marine debris. Through a community-based removal grant project funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Island Trails Network (ITN) led 29 volunteers from June 12th to September 4th of this year to help remove marine debris in this area. There were six teams of five to seven sea paddlers, which each spent two weeks camping and collecting debris to restore coastal habitats on Shuyak. During 56 total days of cleanup, we collected 35,036 pounds of marine debris from a continuous belt of coastal habitat (52 miles in length) along the island’s northwest shore. Cleanup teams moved freely along the coast in sea kayaks, which were a convenient means of accessing shallow rocky shorelines.

Tags Alaska removal
krista.e.stegemann
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