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Check out our photo gallery for images of marine debris types, sources, solutions, research, prevention, and impacts.

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A large pile of plastic bottle caps.

Types

Marine debris comes in all shapes and sizes that float throughout the water column.
Overflowing trash cans with plastic and styrofoam garbage on the ground.

Sources

Marine debris can come from a variety of sources, both land- and ocean-based.
Many students raising their hands in an auditorium.

Prevention

Prevention is the ultimate solution to the marine debris problem. Using outreach and education to work with groups such as students and community members can stop marine debris at its source.
Person near the water and a boat, inputting data on a hand-held device

Research

There is still a lot to learn about marine debris and researching the topic can help us to better address the issue.
Crab entangled in fishing net.

Impacts

Marine debris impacts are wide ranging. From being an eyesore on a beach to animal entanglement, marine debris is a problem that we cannot ignore.
Scuba diver managing a huge wad of derelict fishing net bundled for removal.

Solutions

Marine debris is one of the most widespread pollution problems facing the world's oceans and waterways.

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For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

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