Kids painting signs on a tarp.

For Students

Dive into our marine debris resources and opportunities designed to encourage your learning and exploration.

See Also:
For Kids and Families
For Adults and Professionals
For Educators

  • Do Something About Marine Debris

    Marine debris is a problem caused by people, but it also has human solutions. Those solutions can start with you! Learn more about things you can do to keep our sea free of debris.

    At Home

    A pile of old tooth brushes.
    The first step to solving a problem is learning more about it. Learn what you can do to create change at home.

    Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest and Calendar

    A drawing of a coral reef full of sea creatures and trash, with an octopus at the top holding two signs reading "We need clean water to thrive" and "Our home is not your garbage can," artwork by Sahini K. (Grade 6, Florida), winner of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
    The 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Learn more about the annual NOAA Marine Debris Art Contest.

    Collecting Marine Debris Data

    Volunteers cleaning up marine debris along a shoreline covered in logs.
    Interested in citizen science efforts but not sure where to start? This easy-to-use app will help you collect and analyze data about marine debris in your area. The Marine Debris Tracker App is managed by the University of Georgia.

    At School

    Students around a desk.
    The first step to solving a problem is learning more about it. Learn what you can do to create change at school.

  • Additional Resources

    Looking for more? Explore other resources from the Marine Debris Program and across NOAA.

    Photos

    A crab entangled in a yellow net.
    Check out our photo gallery for images of marine debris types, sources, solutions, research, prevention, and impacts.

    Student Opportunities in NOAA

    Fellow on a boat carefully holding a small shark and preparing to put it back into the water.
    Find information about opportunities available to students throughout NOAA, including scholarships, internships, and online resources.

  • Learn About Marine Debris

    What is marine debris? Where does it come from? How does it affect our ocean and waterways? Find the answers to these and all your marine debris questions here.

    Trash in the Deep

    A food container, seen resting at 4,947 meters on the slopes of a canyon leading to the Sirena Deep.
    During a dive along the Mariana Trench wall, the NOAA Okeanos Explorer team saw multiple pieces of marine debris.

    Activities

    Fish illustration.
    Download an assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers, and coloring activities for Grades 1-12. All activities are available for download and print!

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

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