NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Shoreline Survey Guide

This Shoreline Survey Guide provides a written and visual explanation of the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project survey methods, including instructions on creating a survey site, conducting a survey, completing datasheets and submitting data to NOAA. If you have questions about the guide or how to participate, please contact NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project staff at md.monitoring@noaa.gov.

The Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) is a NOAA citizen science initiative that engages NOAA partners and volunteers across the nation to survey and record the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines. Participants in the MDMAP network select nearby shoreline monitoring sites that they return to routinely to conduct surveys and record information that can be used to compare amounts, locations, movement, sources, and impacts across the United States and internationally. For more resources and information, visit the Monitoring Toolbox.