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A mass of derelict nets removed from the reefs surrounding Midway Atoll (Kuaihelani, Pihemanu) in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Credit: NOAA).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce our Fiscal Year 2022 NOAA Marine Debris Removal notice of funding opportunity. Funding for this opportunity is provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The NOAA Marine Debris Program will award up to $56 million to fund projects that remove marine debris to benefit marine and Great Lakes habitats and communities. This competition focuses on two priorities: removing large marine debris and using proven interception technologies to capture marine debris throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States.
The deadline has been extended and proposals are now due on Grants.gov on October 5, 2022, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Grant applicant guidance and resources are now available on the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.
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Check out the 7IMDC Provisional Conference Program and Schedule now (Credit: NOAA).
The 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC) will take place September 18-23, 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This conference is one of the world’s largest and longest-running events dedicated to the issue of marine debris. The 7IMDC is organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Registration for the 7IMDC closes September 1, 2022. The Provisional Conference Program is now available.
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A remote area with marine debris collected from near Lake Ozette, Washington, by hikers and deposited away from the beach (Credit: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation).
In recent years, increasing amounts of marine debris littering the shores of Washington’s wilderness beaches have caused concern in the conservation community. Salish Synergy: Cross-Border Debris Removal and Recycling, an ambitious new project led by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, aims to remove 35,000 pounds of marine debris from Washington’s outer coast annually.
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The Northwest Straits Foundation Field Operations Manager pulls a derelict crab pot onboard (Credit: NOAA).
The wonders of Washington’s Salish Sea are easy to find. A day exploring here can include roaming a shoreline digging for clams while one of the region's many snowcapped mountains loom in the background, catching salmon, pulling up pots full of Dungeness crab, or traversing the majestic San Juan Archipelago. Yet, underneath the waters of the Salish Sea lies a hidden threat to the ecosystem; lost and abandoned fishing nets and crab pots on the seafloor that degrade marine habitat and entangle and capture marine life with no one there to harvest them. The Northwest Straits Foundation has been working to eliminate this threat by removing lost gear, researching impacts and solutions, and educating fishers on best practices to avoid losing gear.
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A Nurdle Patrol team member shows nurdle sizes, shapes, and colors (Credit: Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Staff).
Small plastic pellets, or nurdles, are the raw material for almost everything made of plastic. Unfortunately, before they make it to plastic production, they can be released into the environment where they pollute habitats and harm wildlife. With a grant from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Nurdle Patrol, a citizen science project run by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas, is expanding efforts throughout Mexico.
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Volunteers haul out trash collected during the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup event on Kingman Island, Washington D.C. (Credit: NOAA).
It’s almost that time of year—time for the annual International Coastal Cleanup! The Ocean Conservancy brings people together around the globe for this event to clean up marine debris in their local communities, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to have supported the International Coastal Cleanup for over 15 years. To find a cleanup near you, and steps for staying safe while collecting debris, check out Ocean Conservancy's website.
Visit the Education section of our website to find marine debris lesson plans, activities, and other great teaching resources (Credit: Rick Houchin Photography).
Attention teachers and educators! We have a variety of great teaching resources ready to download for the new school year. Our growing collection of curriculum materials include lesson plans, activities, and multimedia. Check out our marine debris resources for educators!
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