Garbage Patches

… What and Where Are Garbage Patches? Garbage patches are large … ranges in size, from large abandoned fishing nets to tiny microplastics , which are plastic pieces smaller than 5mm in … and other debris. We know that this can be harmful to the health of fish, seabirds, and other marine animals. These …
Discover Marine Debris   07/23/2024 - 13:32

Reducing the Impact of Large Marine Debris on the National Marine Sanctuary System

… The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is leading a multi-site project to remove large marine debris and foster partnerships within the National Marine Sanctuary System that will benefit coastal and marine habitats and communities throughout the nation. …
Removal   California, Gulf of America, Pacific Northwest   04/24/2025 - 14:03

Coastal Export and Fate of Microplastics in the Southern California Bight

… The University of California at Riverside and partners will investigate the source and pathways of microplastics, using modeling and field measurements of … of California Los Angeles (Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences ), and the Southern California Coastal …
Research   California   04/15/2025 - 10:39

Microplastics

… Our ocean and Great Lakes are polluted with a wide variety of marine … particles that can’t be seen with the naked eye. These microplastics are found throughout the ocean and Great … us during normal wear. In a study of microplastics on 37 National Park beaches, these fibers were found at every site …
What is Marine Debris?   02/07/2023 - 07:45

Citizen Scientists Research and Prevent Microplastics in Florida

… Florida Sea Grant and the NOAA Marine Debris Program partnered to create a network of citizen scientists across Florida to study microplastics and lead education and outreach events. Type … , staff from Rookery Bay and Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserves , The Florida Aquarium …
Prevention   Florida   04/17/2025 - 15:42

The NOAA Marine Debris Program Awards Funding to 14 New Projects to Remove Marine Debris Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

… our NOAA Marine Debris Removal awards for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, totaling over $69 million in federal funding for … commitment to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal and marine habitats and communities across the nation … 2023 awarded projects are: Priority 1: BoatUS Foundation (National, $10,000,000) will administer a national …
Funding Opportunities   03/03/2025 - 12:41

Where Does Marine Debris Come From?

… everyone, no matter where they live. It comes from people and can enter our waterways, ocean, and Great Lakes in many ways from activities on land and at … Successful change will require participation from local and national governments, private industry, educational and …
Discover Marine Debris   

International Collaboration

… global problem that touches every corner of our ocean and Great Lakes. It occurs everywhere in the ocean and can … of entry into the marine environment, and move across national boundaries and territorial waters. To effectively … workshop-on-assessing-the-risks-associated-with-plastics-and-microplastics-in-the-marine-environment … 2 … International …
Our Work   04/23/2025 - 11:33

Health

… We know marine debris can cause problems for wildlife and the places they live, but it can also potentially affect the health of people. Marine debris on a beach could be … largely unknown. Is there plastic in our food and water? Microplastics , or tiny pieces of plastic 5 mm and smaller, …
Why is Marine Debris a Problem?   12/21/2022 - 19:11

Quantification of Microplastics and Microfibers on U.S. National Park Beaches

… The National Park Service and Clemson University teamed up with … beach sediments to assess the abundance and distribution of microplastics and microfibers on U.S. National Park beaches. …
Research   11/27/2024 - 12:41

Land-based Marine Debris

… Most marine debris comes from human activities on land, and eventually enters the ocean and Great Lakes. This land-based marine debris can come from …
Where Does Marine Debris Come From?   03/28/2025 - 11:24

Plastic

… most common type of marine debris in our ocean, waterways, and Great Lakes. Plastic is used to create items that are … such as for medical devices that keep many people safe and healthy. However, the durability of plastic is also one of … and break up into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics . Because of their small size, these tiny …
What is Marine Debris?   04/10/2025 - 14:15

NOAA Marine Debris Capabilities Webinar

… capabilities within NOAA. Six speakers from offices and programs across the NOAA family presented on their … detection. Presenters represented the following offices:  National Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, … National Centers for Environmental Information  Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research, Atlantic Oceanographic and …
Videos   09/10/2024 - 20:10

Partner Project Highlights from the MDMAP

… marine habitats, impedes navigation, impacts our economy, and is a risk to human health and safety. Although we continue to learn more and … with citizen scientists to collect data across an international network of shoreline survey sites. There are two …
Research   California, Gulf of America, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest   02/26/2025 - 15:29

What is Marine Debris?

… paper, textiles, derelict fishing gear, derelict vessels, and other lost or discarded items enter the marine … greatly in size from the smallest plastic pieces, called microplastics , that can be too small to be seen with the … greatly in size from the smallest plastic pieces, called microplastics , that can be too small to be seen with the …
Discover Marine Debris