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Artwork by Ella K. (Grade 2, Virginia), winner of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 16th. Winning artwork will be featured in our 2024 Marine Debris Calendar! The 2023 Marine Debris Calendar featuring last year's winners is now available for download.
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An updated MDMAP Shoreline Survey Guide and other Monitoring Toolbox materials were released this year (Credit: NOAA).
Marine debris is a familiar sight on shorelines around the world, and a reminder that there is still work to be done to tackle this global environmental problem. While we know a lot about marine debris, there are questions that can help test and identify the best solutions. How much marine debris is on our shores? What kind of debris is it, and where does it come from? Are these things changing over time? You can help find the answers through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program Monitoring and Assessment Project! An updated Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started.
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U.S. Forest Service staff removing debris to return to Yakutat for sorting and disposal (Credit: Kevin Forster, City and Borough of Yakutat).
Throughout the year, the NOAA Marine Debris Program will spotlight each region for an entire month. Take a look back at the Alaska projects we highlighted in October.
When people think of Alaska, many images may come to mind: jagged mountains, majestic glaciers, rugged shorelines, rich and diverse wildlife and habitats, and vast wilderness. Its position in the North Pacific makes it home to some of the most productive and critical fisheries in the United States, and the world. This same position, combined with its vast scale, ocean current, wind patterns, and the growing maritime transport and fishing activity in near and distant waters, also means huge amounts of marine debris arrive on Alaskan shorelines every year. Fortunately, there is an active, innovative, and dedicated community of individuals and organizations working on the issue across the state of Alaska.
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The Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island Tribal Government is working to prevent plastic packing bands from becoming marine debris and harming seals (Permit 23896, Credit: Aleut Community of St. Paul Ecosystem Conservation Office).
The Aleut Community of Saint Paul Island Tribal Government has been actively tackling marine debris issues over the last two decades to protect the marine ecosystem around St. Paul Island. With the support of the NOAA Marine Debris Program, we are carrying out a community based social marketing campaign to transform attitudes and behaviors around the use and disposal of plastic packing bands on St. Paul Island, and within the commercial fishing and packaging industries. Eliminating packing band pollution is a priority because of the high risk of injury and death they pose to marine wildlife.
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Crab pots and other derelict fishing gear removed by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Credit: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community).
This November, in celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, we are highlighting examples of collaboration with native communities, nations, and peoples.
Indigenous communities have a deep understanding of and relationship with the natural environment, which has fostered expert and nuanced traditional ecological knowledge, and shaped cultural practices and identity. NOAA recognizes the importance of indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge for understanding the environment, adapting to environmental change, and improving the health of environments that we all depend on. The Marine Debris Program is proud to work with indigenous communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to understand and reduce the impacts of marine debris through projects that prevent and remove marine debris.
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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 if you're looking for extra materials for the 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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![Artwork of a sandy beach with debris and seashells spelling out "Stop Debris, [love] Me".](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USNOAANOS/2022/11/6672413/4409357/ella-k-artwork_crop.jpg)
