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

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

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. Marine debris is … workshop-on-assessing-the-risks-associated-with-plastics-and-microplastics-in-the-marine-environment … 2 … International …
Our Work   05/22/2024 - 15:50

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   

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

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   

Detecting Microplastics in the Marine Environment

… Scientists from the University of Washington Tacoma and George Mason University worked to isolate and quantify microplastics in water and sediment samples and to compare … laboratory protocols. Type of Project: Research Region: National Project End Date: 2016 Who is involved? Scientists …
Research   09/13/2022 - 17:06

Understanding the Fate and Transport of Microplastics at Buoyant River Outflows

… Rutgers University will study the movement of microplastics down the Delaware River to the confluence with Delaware Bay, and determine the role this mixing area may play as the entry point for microplastics into the food chain.  Type of Project: …
Research   Mid-Atlantic   06/12/2024 - 19:07

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   11/21/2022 - 09:26

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   02/19/2025 - 11:43

Using Invasive Mussels as Sentinel Organisms for Monitoring Microplastic Pollution in the Great Lakes: A Case Study

… the NOAA Mussel Watch Program, Loyola University Chicago, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program, will use invasive … efforts as potential tool that can be used to monitor microplastics in the Great Lakes. Funding for this project … freshwater ecosystems and potentially pose a risk to human health. This project seeks to incorporate microplastic …
Research   Great Lakes   01/28/2022 - 17:06