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The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to collaborate with multiple tribal partners in efforts to remove marine debris from our waterways and support communities that work to reduce the impacts of marine debris on our shores. Through our grant programs, regional action plans, and community-building efforts, the NOAA Marine Debris Program strives to bring together the many groups that work tirelessly to protect our shorelines and ocean. On Native American Heritage Day, in celebration of our tribal partners’ rich ancestral heritage and commitment to stewardship, we are highlighting some active and recently completed projects that partner with or are led by native communities. Learn more about each of the projects, the impacts of marine debris on native communities, and native leadership in coastal restoration.
Tags Alaska Large Scale Marine Debris Removal derelict fishing gear derelict crab pots Pacific Northwest Great Lakes removal holidayArtwork by Sahini K. (Grade 6, Florida), winner of the annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
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In This Issue Special Funding Opportunity Nationwide Survey Now Open: Art Contest Upcoming Webinar Latino Conservation Week Community Cleans Derelict Crab PotsThe NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project has an updated Monitoring Toolbox! Check out the new video tutorials and database visualization tools, along with refreshed guides and field datasheets. The Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Educator Workshop in July 2024 (Photo Credit: NOAA).
There is still time to submit a Request for Proposals for the Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Prevention Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA). With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will award 10-15 grants, totaling up to $100,000 for this funding competition. Individual awards will range between $5,000 and $10,000 to support initiatives that prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened by marine debris. These projects may include marine debris prevention, education, and outreach activities. Full proposals are due on November 20, 2024 by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.
NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey Funded Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure LawPublic participants in NOAA’s Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project sort debris items and record data at Nukoli’i Beach, Hawai’i (Photo Credit: K Stock, Kauai Surfrider).
We are proud to announce the launch of the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey. This one-year survey will be conducted in partnership with 1stMission LLC and represents an investment of over $3.3 million in federal funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It will establish a scientifically valid baseline assessment of marine debris found on U.S. shorelines, including the continental U.S., Caribbean, Alaska, Pacific Islands, and Great Lakes, as well as a longer-term vision for documenting trends.
Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art ContestArtwork by Sahini K. (Grade 6, Florida), winner of the annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
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 13th. Enter today and you could see your artwork featured in our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar! So get crafty, get creative, and help us raise awareness about marine debris.
Upcoming Webinar: Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris (TIPS)Raimundo Espinoza, the Executive Director of Conservación ConCiencia will be presenting at the next TIPS webinar (Photo Credit: Conservación ConCiencia).
Help us “reel in the problem” and tackle abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) at our next webinar: From Gear to Ghost: Reeling in the Problem on December 10, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This TIPS webinar will feature presentations from various organizations that engage in ALDFG mitigation efforts. Presenters will speak about prevention, removal, and research initiatives aimed to "reel in the problem" of ALDFG. Register for the upcoming webinar and catch up on previous recordings on our website.
Un Viaje por los Humedales: Celebrating Latino Conservation Week with San Diego Bird AllianceA fantastic and successful Latino Conservation Week celebration (Credit: San Diego Bird Alliance).
With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, San Diego Bird Alliance (SDBA) hosted a celebration that showcased San Diego’s rich biodiversity and the importance of coastal wetlands, and emphasized the importance of collaboration to protect our environment. The event brought the community to the tidal wetlands habitats to share and learn about the species that live there and how they need protection and space to live and thrive. In celebration of their work and the local community, SDBA hosted "Un Viaje por los Humedales,” or “Journey through the Wetlands,” as part of their 5th annual Latino Conservation Week (LCW).
Innerspace Exploration Leads Community Efforts to Clean Up Derelict Crab PotsThe team removed 449 crab pots from Sequim and Discovery Bay (Credit: Innerspace Exploration).
Dungeness Crab are an essential asset to the North Olympic Peninsula, ecologically, economically, and culturally. A side-effect of the beloved fishery is gear loss and bycatch, in Washington State an estimated 120,000 crab pots are deployed annually and there is an estimated gear loss of 10%. In response, Innerspace Exploration partnered with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Clallam and Jefferson County Marine Resources Committees, the Fiero Marine Science Center, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, the North Olympic Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers, and many other community partners on the Sequim & Discovery Bay Derelict Crab Pot Removal project. This effort focused on documenting and removing pots from both Discovery and Sequim Bay in Washington.
NOAA Marine Debris Program | https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ | 2024
1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Contact us at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov
San Diego Bird Alliance is a local leader that shares the value and restoration potential for tidal wetland ecosystems. In South San Diego Bay, our remnant tidal wetlands are fragmented, heavily impacted by the development around them, and changing as sea levels rise. San Diego Bird Alliance brings the community to these natural habitats to share and learn about the species that live there and how they need protection and space to live and thrive.
Tags California cleanupsAre 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 13th. Enter today and you could see your artwork featured in our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar! So get crafty, get creative, and help us raise awareness about marine debris.
Tags art contest art educationThe NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce the launch of the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey, conducted in partnership with @Orchard (formerly 1stMission), and made possible with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This survey, the first conducted by NOAA at this scale, will establish a scientifically valid assessment of marine debris found on U.S. shorelines, including the continental United States, Caribbean, Alaska, Pacific Islands, and Great Lakes, as well as a longer-term vision for documenting trends. This project represents an investment of over $3.3 million in federal funding for marine debris assessment, and continues the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s commitment to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal, marine, and shoreline habitats and communities across the nation.
Tags Large Scale Marine Debris Removal monitoring MDMAPThe NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce the launch of the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey, conducted in partnership with @Orchard (formerly 1stMission), and made possible with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This survey, the first conducted by NOAA at this scale, will establish a scientifically valid assessment of marine debris found on U.S. shorelines, including the continental United States, Caribbean, Alaska, Pacific Islands, and Great Lakes, as well as a longer-term vision for documenting trends. This project represents an investment of over $3.3 million in federal funding for marine debris assessment, and continues the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s commitment to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal, marine, and shoreline habitats and communities across the nation.
Tags Large Scale Marine Debris Removal monitoring MDMAPArtwork by Lola K. (Grade 5, Hawai'i), winner of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
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In This Issue Special Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity 2025 Marine Debris Calendar Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide Upcoming Webinar New Podcast Marine Debris Education MaterialsThe NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project has an updated Monitoring Toolbox! Check out the new video tutorials and database visualization tools, along with refreshed guides and field datasheets. The Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Educator Workshop in July 2024 (Photo Credit: NOAA).
We are pleased to announce, with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a Request for Proposals for the Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Prevention Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA). With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will award 10-15 grants, totaling up to $100,000 for this funding competition. Individual awards will range between $5,000 and $10,000 to support initiatives that prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened by marine debris. These projects may include marine debris prevention, education, and outreach activities.
Funding Opportunity: Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure LawAn abandoned and derelict vessel submerged in a waterway after a hurricane (Photo Credit: NOAA).
We are still accepting Letters of Intent for two Fiscal Year 2025 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $54 million across two funding opportunities:
Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent deadline extended for applicants impacted by Hurricane Helene until October 4, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Affected applicants unable to meet this new deadline may reach out to grants.marinedebris@noaa.gov. Applicant resources are available here.
Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on October 09, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicant resources are available here.
The 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is Now Available!Download the 2025 Marine Debris Calendar on our website now! (Cover art by Juhwan H., Grade 8, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
We are proud to announce that our 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our annual art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 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. Keep your eye on our blog and website for information on the next contest, which opens October 15, 2024.
Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: A New Comprehensive Guide for the TerritoryA derelict vessel found on the island of Guam (Photo Credit: NOAA).
We are pleased to release the “Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide” (Guide). This Guide aims to improve preparedness for responding to marine debris after typhoons and other disasters in the territory, such as Typhoon Mawar, which impacted the island in 2023.
Upcoming Webinar: Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris (TIPS)Raimundo Espinoza, the Executive Director of Conservación ConCiencia will be presenting at the next TIPS webinar (Photo Credit: Conservación ConCiencia).
Help us “reel in the problem” and tackle abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) at our next webinar: From Gear to Ghost: Reeling in the Problem on October 8, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This TIPS webinar will feature presentations from various organizations that engage in ALDFG mitigation efforts. Presenters will speak about prevention, removal, and research initiatives aimed to "reel in the problem" of ALDFG. Register for the upcoming webinar and catch up on previous recordings on our website.
NOAA Ocean Podcast: Marine Debris - Talking TrashA large net filled with broken and dead coral heads that was removed from Seal-Kittery Island, Pearl and Hermes Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Photo Credit: NOAA).
Marine debris is a large and global problem. Plastics, metals, rubber, fishing gear, and other lost and discarded items enter our ocean, Great Lakes, waterways, and coastal areas every day. This challenging issue can cause negative impacts to wildlife, the environment, and the economy. In this episode, the NOAA Ocean Podcast chats with Sophie Maginnes, communication specialist with the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
Search and Filter Marine Debris Education Materials!Check out the Marine Debris Education Materials (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock).
This new tool allows you to explore a full collection of the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s curricula and filter based on what is best fit for your classroom. Explore over 200 educational materials - including curricula, lesson plans, activities, videos, and more - and filter by category.
NOAA Marine Debris Program | https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ | 2024
1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Contact us at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our annual art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 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. Keep your eye on our blog and website for information on the next contest, which opens October 15, 2024.
Tags education art contest calendar outreachThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to release the “Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide” (Guide). This Guide aims to improve preparedness for responding to marine debris after typhoons and other disasters in the territory, such as Typhoon Mawar, which impacted the island in 2023.
Tags response emergency responseAn interception technology installed in the Anacostia River, Maryland, to capture marine debris and prevent it from moving to other areas (Photo Credit: NOAA).
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In This Issue 13 New Projects Recommended for Funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 2024 Community Marine Debris Removal Awards in Alaska International Coastal Cleanup Funding Opportunity Zero Waste Back to School Urban Ocean Summit Upcoming Webinar Coastal Pollution TutorialThe NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project has an updated Monitoring Toolbox! Check out the new video tutorials and database visualization tools, along with refreshed guides and field datasheets. The Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.
A helicopter sling loading debris from Montague Island to a barge (Photo Credit: Gulf of Alaska Keeper).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is proud to announce 13 new projects recommended for funding under our NOAA Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies award competitions. These projects represent an investment in over $23 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The projects recommended under these nationwide competitive funding opportunities continue the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s commitment to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across the nation.
For more information on this year’s recommended projects, please visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.
2024 Community Marine Debris Removal Grant Program Awards in AlaskaMarine debris items removed from Kayak Island, Alaska during a cleanup led by Ocean Plastics Recovery Project (Photo Credit: Ocean Plastics Recovery Project).
We are pleased to announce, with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Sea Grant, seven recommended marine debris removal projects under the 2024 Community Marine Debris Removal Grant Program. These projects represent an investment of $1.2 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These projects will remove and dispose of marine debris and conduct community-focused education and outreach activities in order to provide tangible benefits to coastal and marine habitats, communities, and economies across Alaska.
The International Coastal Cleanup Is Here!Sea the change and find a cleanup near you (Photo Credit: Ocean Conservancy).
It’s almost that time of year—time for the annual International Coastal Cleanup! The Ocean Conservancy brings people together around the globe for this event to clean up marine debris in their local communities, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to provide support.
This year, plan ahead and find a cleanup near you on the Ocean Conservancy's website.
Funding Opportunity: Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure LawAn abandoned and derelict vessel submerged in a marina in Neah Bay, Washington (Photo Credit: NOAA).
We are still accepting Letters of Intent for two Fiscal Year 2025 Notices of Funding Opportunity for both Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $54 million across two funding opportunities:
Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on September 27, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicant resources are available here.
Fiscal Year 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Interception Technologies under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Letters of Intent due on October 09, 2024, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicant resources are available here.
For more information on these funding opportunities, visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program's website.
Zero Waste Back to School PreparationCheck out these online resources to prepare for your back to school season (Photo Credit: NOAA).
Back to school season is here! There can be a lot of waste associated with back to school shopping in the form of single-use plastic and packaging materials that can ultimately end up in our ocean and Great Lakes. As you prepare your classroom and check off your back to school shopping list, the NOAA Marine Debris Program has resources for both students and educators to prepare for the school year ahead. Our online resources are a zero waste must-have for this back to school season!
Urban Ocean Brings Together Partners for Summit in Chennai, IndiaOpening Day of the Urban Ocean Summit (Photo Credit: Ocean Conservancy).
Thanks to funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Ocean Conservancy and Urban Ocean partners, The Circular Initiative and Resilient City Network, provided a unique opportunity for representatives from private companies to connect and explore collaborations and meet others in the sustainability industry who are ready to speed up the transition away from single-use plastics. The Urban Ocean program is now energized and ready to keep the momentum going to reduce plastic pollution in cities across the globe! Read more about the projects the Summit attendees are advancing to reduce plastic pollution and address gaps in their waste management systems.
Upcoming Webinar: Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris (TIPS)The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project removing derelict fishing nets from the reefs of Kamokuokamohoaliʻi (Photo Credit: The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project).
Help us "reel in the problem" and tackle abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) at our next webinar: From Gear to Ghost: Reeling in the Problem on October 8 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This TIPS webinar will feature presentations from various organizations that engage in ALDFG mitigation efforts. Presenters will speak to prevention, removal, and research initiatives aimed to "reel in the problem" of ALDFG. You can register for the upcoming webinar and catch up on previous ones on our website.
New Resource: National Ocean Service Coastal Pollution TutorialA football-field sized barge carrying nearly 3,400 super-sacks of marine debris from remote and rugged beaches from Alaska and British Columbia docked at the Waste Management facility in Seattle, Washington (Photo Credit: NOAA).
A new NOAA online resource explores the sources and impacts of three major types of pollution that affect the nation’s coasts: oil spills, marine debris, and harmful algae blooms. This resource is a collection of pages that present the sources, impacts, and solutions that scientists and others are using to address each of these types of pollution. The content is aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards, as well as the Ocean Literacy Principles.
NOAA Marine Debris Program | https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ | 2024
1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Contact us at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov
Following a highly competitive review process, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce 13 projects recommended for funding under our NOAA Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies grant awards for Fiscal Year 2024. These projects represent an investment in over $23 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Tags funding opportunities grants removal Large Scale Marine Debris RemovalWe are pleased to announce with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Sea Grant seven recommended marine debris removal projects under the 2024 Community Marine Debris Removal Grant Program. These projects represent an investment of $1.2 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Tags funding opportunities grants Alaska removal Large Scale Marine Debris RemovalWe are pleased to announce with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Sea Grant seven recommended marine debris removal projects under the 2024 Community Marine Debris Removal Grant Program. These projects represent an investment of $1.2 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Tags funding opportunities grants Alaska removal Large Scale Marine Debris Removal