2021-2025 Strategic Plan

Trash mixed in with natural debris on a shoreline.

Marine debris touches every corner of the world, from remote islands to the world’s largest cities, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer volume and complexity of the issue. However, there is hope. Marine debris is a human-caused problem and, therefore, has human solutions. As public awareness of and interest in marine debris continues to grow, so does the community of people working to address the issue. 

Since the inception of the NOAA Marine Debris Program in 2006, NOAA has strived to help find solutions to the marine debris problem. The fiscal year 2021-2025 Strategic Plan highlights how the MDP will work with dedicated staff and partners for the next five years to make a measurable change toward reaching our vision: the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris. Six goals will guide the next five years: prevention, removal, research, response, coordination, and a new goal: monitoring and detection. The fiscal year 2021-2025 Strategic Plan also includes a new focus on using innovative technology and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

This plan will drive daily operations, set annual milestones, and challenge the MDP to reach more ambitious goals than ever previously set. The path forward is one filled with hope for a healthier ocean and healthier planet.

Check out the Strategic Plan to see how dedicated partners in communities across the country and beyond to tackle the problem of marine debris.