NOAA Marine Debris Program e-Newsletter | March 2019
NOAA's National Ocean Service sent this bulletin at 03/07/2019 11:00 AM EST
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Marine Debris and Mardi Gras
Debris in a storm drain after a Mardi Gras celebration (Photo: Mobile Baykeeper). It’s that time of year again… Mardi Gras parades, king cakes, and throws of plastic beads, moon pies, and more. What doesn’t get caught, however, ends up on the street and ultimately, in the storm drains that flow into streams, rivers, and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing for Marine Debris in Florida
A Ghost Trap Rodeo volunteer works to retrieve a derelict trap (Photo: Ocean Aid 360). In Tampa Bay, the rodeo has come to town, but you won't find any cowboys! Instead, Ocean Aid 360 is working with anglers off all ages to catch derelict fishing gear and other debris through their Ghost Trap Rodeo Event Series. Great Lakes Action Plan Summary Report
Great Lakes Land-based Marine Debris Action Plan 2018 Action Summary Report. We are proud to release the Great Lakes Land-based Marine Debris Action Plan 2018 Action Summary Report. This report highlights all the important work completed by Great Lakes partners, as the plan officially comes to a close in 2019. Transporting Invasive Species
An array of marine life was found on this derelict dock from Japan that washed up on Agate Beach in Newport, Oregon (Photo: Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center). Marine debris can swirl around our ocean for many years, but what happens when it starts to pick up hitch hikers? As more species travel to previously inaccessible areas on rafts made of our trash, it becomes more likely that some of these species may start to disrupt the ecosystems they colonize and become invasive. Tackling Marine Debris in Florida and the Caribbean
Eckerd College students raise their reusable tumblers to toast (Photo: Angelina Kossoff). In Florida, taking on marine debris on land and in the water is all about community. That’s why our partners are tackling single-use plastics and derelict fishing gear with the helping hands of students, anglers, and other volunteers. Marine Debris in the Gulf of Mexico
Abandoned and derelict vessels like this one are a hazard in the Weeks Bay estuary (Photo: Weeks Bay NERR). With rivers flowing from as far as the Rocky Mountains and a huge ocean basin, marine debris in the Gulf of Mexico can come from a number of places far and near. Our partners in the region are tackling this challenge by removing dangerous derelict vessels, taking on large debris jams that block rivers, and even preventing trash from coastal restaurants. Restoring Fish Habitat in the Pearl River
Heavy equipment is being used to remove the largest pieces of debris from the Pearl River (Photo: Abby Braman, Pearl Riverkeeper). The connection between upstream and coastal habitats is critical to the survival of many fish and wildlife species. That's why our partners are working to remove a jam in the Pearl River Basin, located in east-central and southwest Mississippi and in southeastern Louisiana, made up of woody debris and large man-made items, like abandoned and derelict vessels. |
NOAA Marine Debris Program | https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/ | 2019 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Contact us at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov |
