Videos

Watch videos for information on marine debris and NOAA's work to address it.

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Photos
Artwork
Infographics
Posters

Project Highlights

A group of people bringing trash bags full of marine debris on board a vessel during a cleanup.

Responsibly Responding to Fishing Gear through a Northeast Coalition

With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Center for Coastal Studies is leading a new coalition of nongovernmental organizations and commercial enterprises across the Northeast to remove, collect, document, and recycle, repurpose, or properly dispose of fishing gear from the Gulf of Maine’s water and shorelines. The Great Boston Harbor Islands Cleanup, a collaborative effort from this project, resulted in the removal of over 47,000 pounds of marine debris from five islands in Boston Harbor.
A scuba diver removing a derelict lobster trap underwater.

Collaborating to Remove Derelict Fishing Gear in the U.S. Caribbean

With the support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, The Ocean Foundation and Conservación ConCiencia are working with local fishing communities from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to implement a fishing trap turn-in program and large-scale, impactful removals of lost or abandoned derelict fishing gear.
A derelict vessel lifted into the sky by a helicopter.

Removing and Preventing Derelict Vessels on Tribal Tidelands in Washington

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources' Derelict Vessel Removal Program, with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and in partnership with the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Port of Olympia, airlifted 14 abandoned vessels via helicopter from the shoreline of Squaxin Island in Washington’s Puget Sound.

Marine Debris 101

Cartoon scuba diver in sea with debris.

TRASH TALK: What is Marine Debris?

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

Earth showing garbage patch circulation in the Pacific ocean.

TRASH TALK: What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

It’s not a floating island of trash, like a garbage dump or a landfill. It’s also not the only patch. They exist all throughout the ocean, and the Pacific Garbage Patch just happens to be the most famous.

NOAA Divers free turtle

NOAA Divers Free Green Sea Turtle from Net in Hawaii

In October 2014, a team of 17 NOAA divers sailing aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette returned from a mission to remove marine debris from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, a World Heritage Site and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world.

Education

Turtle Trash Collectors Interactive Program Video.

Turtle Trash Collectors Interactive Program Video

Marine debris has major impacts on all kinds of marine animals, especially sea turtles. These iconic animals can confuse plastic bags and balloons for jellyfish, their favorite food.

Recycling and waste bins on a schoolyard.

One Cool Earth Zero Waste: How To Start School Waste Sorting Stations

This video, created by One Cool Earth with support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, walks through an easy way to help your school reduce waste: organizing waste stations!

Growing and Strengthening a Culture of Recycling to Reduce Marine Debris in Saipan's Waters

Growing and Strengthening a Culture of Recycling to Reduce Marine Debris in Saipan's Waters

With support from a NOAA Marine Debris Community-based Removal Grant, the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, expanded local waste management infrastructure by installing mixed-waste and recycling bins at seven locations on th

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

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