Volunteers loading debris into a boat on a remote Alaskan shoreline.

Marine Debris in Alaska

This region includes all of Alaska.

The marine debris problem is different in Alaska than in other parts of the United States. With an extensive, rugged, and remote coastline—longer than the rest of the United States—addressing marine debris in Alaska requires innovative and creative approaches. Marine debris in Alaska comes from both local and distant activities, making source identification and prevention difficult. The Alaska marine debris community works to meet the marine debris challenge to protect critical resources, habitat, and wildlife. Since 2006, the NOAA Marine Debris Program has worked with partners to research, remove, and prevent marine debris in Alaska. Across more than 50 of these projects, partners have removed over 2 million pounds of debris from Alaskan shorelines.  

Regional Coordinator

marine.debris.alaska@noaa.gov
Two people drag a mass of derelict fishing nets, buoys, and other gear on a rocky Alaska shoreline.

Regional Collaboration

Regional Action Planning

A bead of polystyrene foam.

Regional Topics

  • Lose the Loop! Derelict nets, line, traps, and packing bands can entangle and entrap marine species, such as Alaska's Steller sea lions and northern fur seals.
  • While most debris comes from everyday sources, acute events can generate significant debris and unique concerns. During the Bering Strait Debris Event of 2020, unusual debris arrived on shorelines in the Norton Sound and Bering Strait region. Learn about the event and response in the Bering Strait Debris Event Report.
  • Marine debris can be found even in the most remote parts of Alaska, including the Arctic. A joint project with National Park Service, NOAA, and Clemson University showed concentrations of microplastics in sand collected at two Arctic sites were comparable to two major U.S. cities.
  • The Arctic Council has made marine debris (or “marine litter”) an ongoing focus topic. NOAA is supporting efforts by multiple Council working groups to understand the state of the science, create guidelines for monitoring, and coordinate future actions for marine debris in the Arctic.
Large pieces of foam and buoys mixed in with natural debris on a shoreline.

Additional Resources

The NOAA Marine Debris Program offers several nationwide, competitive funding opportunities for marine debris projects. Check out open competitions and access resources to help applicants prepare a strong proposal.

Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

Abandoned and derelict vessel information for states and territories in the Alaska region:

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

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