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The NOAA Marine Debris Program is excited to be co-hosting the 6IMDC with UN Environment in San Diego, California, USA from March 12-16, 2018! With a variety of tracks, themes, and session types, the 6IMDC will promote new partnerships, further raise public awareness and support, and inspire new actions that will take us closer to a world free from the impacts of marine debris. Space is limited, so don’t forget to register today to secure your spot!
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The Douglas Indian Association works to remove derelict crab pots from the Gastineau Channel (Photo: Douglas Indian Association).
Many native communities in the Western United States and in Alaska are tied to the ocean, depending on its resources for economic well-being and cultural identity. The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to have worked with native communities on the West Coast and in Alaska to protect these resources by preventing and removing marine debris.
The marine debris team removes broken corals from a derelict fishing net (Photo: NOAA)
Coral reefs are diverse and important marine ecosystems, supporting a wide array of wildlife. Not only do they provide essential structure for habitats, but corals themselves are a unique and beautiful type of animal. Unfortunately, corals don’t have it easy. These animals are very sensitive to changes in their environment and are under threat by a preventable problem: marine debris.
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A library patron receives a new, reusable tote bag (Photo: Charleston County Public Library).
Plastic bags are pervasive in marine environments and are one of the most common items found during litter cleanup events. In an effort to reduce their contribution to marine debris in coastal South Carolina, the Charleston County Public Library has ended their use and distribution of single-use plastic bags at all 16 branch locations!
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A barge is loaded with "super sacks" filled with marine debris collected from remote Alaskan shorelines (Photo: Gulf of Alaska Keeper).
The marine debris community is resourceful and creative, and over time has developed a number of innovative removal methods. From diver surveys in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to using helicopters to remove marine debris in inaccessible parts of Alaska, these methods provide creative solutions to remove marine debris.
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A Hawaiian monk seal sits atop a derelict fishing net (Photo: NOAA).
Marine debris is one of the greatest pollution problems facing our waters today, and can be a difficult to talk about without starting to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Tune into this free webinar to learn more about the science of marine debris, how to talk about and connect to the problem of this issue, what resources are out there to help you, what we’re still learning about it, and how to get involved in the solution.
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The Marine Debris Monitoring Toolkit for Educators was created as a resource to translate the NOAA Marine Debris Program's Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project, a robust citizen science initiative, for classroom use. The Toolkit is designed to assist teachers in educating their students about marine debris and involving them in marine debris research and outreach.
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Students from Irvine, California pose with "Maurice the Marine Debris Whale," an interactive sculpture created to educate the public about marine debris impacts on marine wildlife (Photo: Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs).
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is launching their second Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition! This competition is for U.S. middle or high school students who care about the issue of marine debris and want to make a difference in their community.
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