From Fellowship to Fellow Teammate! Shanelle.Naone Tue, 11/15/2022 - 11:00

In 2020, I began my California Sea Grant Extension Fellowship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program. I was brought on to help the California Regional Coordinator implement marine debris projects and strategies in California. Over the course of my fellowship, I had the opportunity to lead a statewide marine debris action plan, support strategic internal efforts, and partake in countless professional development opportunities. This experience has improved my confidence as a young professional, guided my career path, and has certainly prepared me for my next chapter and future career.

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Tags California Internship

Partners Take On Marine Debris Across the Southeast neil.mccoy Thu, 11/10/2022 - 11:00

Fall has finally arrived here in the Southeast, bringing cooler temperatures after a long, brutally hot summer. Gone (for now) are cleanup days of sweat and sunblock-drenched clothes and bags that stick to your skin. This means tackling marine debris just became a little more enjoyable and a lot less sweaty! While you’re out enjoying these beautiful, crisp days, you may see our partners in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina out and about taking on the marine debris issue head-on. We’re excited to highlight some of their marine debris prevention and removal efforts.

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Tags Southeast prevention removal

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

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.

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Tags removal prevention Alaska

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.

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Tags Alaska removal prevention

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

Remove, Recycle, Restore: Salish Synergy in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Shanelle.Naone Wed, 08/31/2022 - 11:00

In recent years, increasing amounts of marine debris littering the shores of Washington’s wilderness beaches have caused concern in the conservation community. Salish Synergy: Cross-Border Debris Removal and Recycling, an ambitious new project led by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, aims to remove 35,000 pounds of marine debris from Washington’s outer coast annually.  

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Tags Pacific Northwest removal

Expanding Nurdle Patrol from Texas to Mexico neil.mccoy Thu, 08/25/2022 - 11:00

Small plastic pellets, or nurdles, are the raw material for almost everything made of plastic. Unfortunately, before they make it to plastic production, they can be released into the environment where they pollute habitats and harm wildlife. With a grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Nurdle Patrol, a citizen science project run by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas, is expanding efforts throughout Mexico.

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Tags Gulf of America prevention

Eliminating Threats of Derelict Crab Pots in Washington’s Salish Sea Shanelle.Naone Wed, 08/10/2022 - 11:00

The wonders of Washington’s Salish Sea are easy to find. A day exploring here can include roaming a shoreline digging for clams while one of the region's many snowcapped mountains loom in the background, catching salmon, pulling up pots full of Dungeness crab, or traversing the majestic San Juan Archipelago. Yet, underneath the waters of the Salish Sea lies a hidden threat to the ecosystem; lost and abandoned fishing nets and crab pots on the seafloor that degrade marine habitat and entangle and capture marine life with no one there to harvest them. Living in this area comes with the responsibility to protect its beauty and the resources it provides.

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Tags Pacific Northwest derelict crab pots removal

Protecting Pacific Northwest Shorelines: A Committed Community Shanelle.Naone Wed, 08/03/2022 - 11:00

Oregon and Washington contain some of the most remote and ecologically diverse coasts in the continental United States. These waters teem with fish and marine mammals, and support tourism and vital subsistence, commercial, and recreational fisheries. Marine debris can be harmful to these waters and all that rely on it. These threats could be derelict fishing gear that entangles and catches marine life, or it could also be large debris such as derelict vessels that have sunk or been improperly disposed of. The NOAA Marine Debris Program partners with community members and organizations in the Pacific Northwest who are committed to preventing and removing these and other types of marine debris.

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Tags Pacific Northwest removal prevention

Taking on Debris Big and Small in the Gulf of Mexico Shanelle.Naone Wed, 07/13/2022 - 11:00

The Gulf of Mexico is a vast and productive body of water spanning 600,000 square miles with tremendous ecological, economic, and social value. The vast Gulf provides essential habitat for an amazing diversity of fish, whales, dolphins, and species of migratory, wading, and sea birds. Unfortunately, marine debris impacts habitats, wildlife, and industries throughout the Gulf of Mexico. In order to address the issue of marine debris, from large hurricane debris to tiny microplastics, the region needs a comprehensive approach that brings together many partners.

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Tags Gulf of America prevention removal

Channeling Conservation in the Channel Islands: One Lobster Trap, Balloon, and Piece of Plastic at a Time Shanelle.Naone Thu, 06/23/2022 - 17:00

Staff, faculty, and students at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) Santa Rosa Island Research Station have been working to monitor and remove marine debris from portions of Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands since 2015. With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, over 7,500 pounds of debris have been removed from the islands since 2020. This three-year project is an extension of past research and collaborative efforts of partners across the Channel Islands. CSUCI invited the NOAA Marine Debris Program California Regional Coordinator and the program’s California Sea Grant Extension Fellow for a week-long site visit to remove and assess the amounts, types, and sources of marine debris on Santa Rosa Island.

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Tags California removal

International Collaboration for a Debris Free Gulf of Maine neil.mccoy Thu, 05/26/2022 - 11:00

The Gulf of Maine, which extends from the Bay of Fundy to Cape Cod Bay, is one of the most dynamic and productive marine ecosystems in the world. With its unique coastal habitats and rich waters, the region supports a variety of wildlife from migratory shorebirds to fish, shellfish, and marine mammals. It also provides valuable economic, cultural, and recreational opportunities for people who call the Gulf of Maine home. Unfortunately, marine debris from human-made materials, such as plastics and derelict fishing gear, can damage ocean and coastal habitat and harm wildlife through entanglement and ingestion.

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Tags Northeast removal prevention

Microplastics for Dinner? A Story About Picky Eaters neil.mccoy Thu, 05/19/2022 - 11:00

Plastic particles less than 5mm in size, known as microplastics, are found everywhere that scientists have looked, including in the coastal waters of New England. The eastern oyster is an important commercial aquaculture species that has been shown to eat microplastics. In partnership with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, marine scientists at the University of Connecticut sampled oysters in the field and performed a series of selection experiments in the laboratory to determine what types of microplastics oysters prefer to eat or reject and how that relates to what is in the natural environment.

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Tags research Northeast microplastics

Taking the Lead to Prevent Hurricane Debris neil.mccoy Thu, 05/05/2022 - 11:00

As we approach the 2022 hurricane season, we are sharing NOAA Marine Debris Program resources to help you prepare for storms and prevent storm-generated debris from accumulating in waterways and on shorelines. Hurricanes and typhoons are among nature's most powerful and destructive events, and when these natural disasters strike they can create massive amounts of debris. That’s why the NOAA Marine Debris Program is participating in Hurricane Preparedness Week and working with coastal states and U.S. territories to help communities prepare for hurricanes and prevent and respond to marine debris.

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Tags emergency response

Springing Into Action in the Northeast neil.mccoy Wed, 05/04/2022 - 11:00

As temperatures slowly warm, and the Earth begins to thaw, springtime energy is evident across the Northeast Region. Though planning, cleanups, debris sorting, outreach, and research have been ongoing all winter, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s grant-funded partners across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are ramping up for the summer field season and we have a lot to share!

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Tags Northeast removal prevention

Caribbean Communities Come Together Against Marine Debris neil.mccoy Tue, 04/26/2022 - 11:00

The picturesque islands in the Caribbean can be considered the perfect dream vacation getaway for many, but this natural paradise isn’t free from the issues of marine debris. Islands in the Caribbean are vulnerable to hurricanes, and communities are often impacted by disaster debris. Other factors, such as a dependence on imported goods and solid waste management challenges, increase the chance of unwanted debris littering their coasts. With the support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, our partners in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are passionately working to remove existing debris, develop strategies to prevent future marine debris, and create tools that empower communities to take local action.

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Tags prevention removal Caribbean

Shining Light on Marine Debris Efforts in the Sunshine State neil.mccoy Tue, 04/05/2022 - 11:00

Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is home to the only living barrier reef in the continental United States and over 650 miles of scenic coastlines. Unfortunately, underwater debris, such as lost traps and fishing gear, causes damage to these fragile ecosystems and impacts local fishing, tourism, and recreational industries. The NOAA Marine Debris Program and our partners across the state are working on debris removal and prevention efforts to keep these important ecosystems healthy and free of debris.

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Tags Florida removal prevention

Now Available: The Full Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Webinar Series neil.mccoy Tue, 03/29/2022 - 11:00

Over the past year, experts from across the country shared their experiences, solutions, and lessons learned through our Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels monthly webinar series to help communities facing abandoned and derelict vessel issues. We are pleased to share that the full webinar series is now available on our website. 

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Tags ADVs

Preventing Cigarette Litter in San Francisco Shanelle.Naone Tue, 03/15/2022 - 11:00

Much of San Francisco’s beauty comes from its stunning location, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. San Francisco is also the second-most densely populated city in the United States and one of the country’s most-visited destinations. With so many people near so much water, the marine environment is especially vulnerable to all forms of human-made pollution, including cigarette butts, the most littered item in San Francisco and around the world.

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Tags California prevention removal research