NOAA Marine Debris Program e-Newsletter | January 2021

January 2021

Plastic foam fragments removed from the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. (Photo: NOAA).

In This Issue

Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed

North American Grant Opportunity Open

Reducing Waste at Home

Digital Educational Resources

2021 Calendar Available for Download

Quick Links

Marine Debris Website
Marine Debris Blog
MDMAP Toolbox
ADV InfoHub
Clearinghouse

Marine Debris Tracker Mobile Application

Marine Debris Tracker App

Make a difference by using the Marine Debris Tracker app to record debris items you find.

2021 Marine Debris Calendar Available Online

Cover of the 2021 Marine Debris Calendar

Download the 2021 Marine Debris Calendar on our website now! (Cover art by Sophie W., Grade 8, Michigan)

Our 2021 Marine Debris Calendar is still available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from nine states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

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Website & Blog

Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed

Plastic bottles, cigarette butts, fishing line, and other marine debris.

We are excited to share the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act was signed into law on December 18. The Act enhances the NOAA Marine Debris Program's work to assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine debris, both in the United States and around the world.


North America Grant Opportunity Open

Tijuana River NERR goat canyon basin

Debris along the lower part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (Photo: Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve).

We are proud to announce our FY 2021 North America Marine Debris Prevention and Removal notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Funding for this NOFO was provided through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act. The USMCA recognizes the importance of taking action to prevent and reduce marine debris, including plastic litter and microplastics, in order to preserve human health and marine and coastal ecosystems, prevent the loss of biodiversity, and mitigate the costs and impacts of marine debris.

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Reducing Waste by Building Habits at Home

Reusable bamboo utensils

One easy way to reduce waste is to skip the plastic utensils and napkins when ordering take out or delivery, whether you are eating at home or on the go (Photo: NOAA).

Practicing waste reduction at home builds a strong foundation for reducing waste in our everyday lives. While spending more time at home this winter, we can examine our daily habits and think about the ways we can be more sustainable. Reducing our personal waste is an important part of preventing potential marine debris; let’s kick off our new year with resolving to do so.

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Digital Debris Educational Resources

Trash Talk

Explore marine debris topics, such as garbage patches, right from home!

Parents, students, and teachers: did you know we have free activities, videos, and more, all available online? Learn about marine debris and have some fun, wherever you might be, with digital debris educational resources for all ages!

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