NOAA Marine Debris Program e-Newsletter | December 2017

Header December 2017

Plastic beverage bottles removed from the Anacostia River in Washington, DC.

In This Issue

6IMDC Registration Open!

Collaboration with Native Communities

Marine Debris & Corals

Turning the Page on Debris

Innovative Removal Projects

Marine Debris Webinar

Marine Debris Toolkit

Advocacy Competition

2017 Accomplishments Report

Upcoming Cleanups

Quick Links

Marine Debris Website
Marine Debris Blog
MDMAP Toolbox
ADV InfoHub
Clearinghouse

2017 Accomplishments Report Now Available

2017 Accomplishments Report


The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to present our 2017 Accomplishments Report, which highlights some of our major accomplishments over the past year.

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Marine Debris Tracker Mobile Application

Tracker App Logo

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

Upcoming Cleanups

December 7
Washington State University
Joseph Whidbey State Park
Oak Harbor, WA

December 7
NYC Parks
Sandy Memorial Garden
Staten Island, NY

December 9
City of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale, FL

December 9
Miami EcoAdventures
Crandon Park Visitor Center
Miami, FL

December 9
Florida State Parks
Bill Baggs Cape State Park
Key Biscayne, FL

December 9
DEEP Foundation Inc
Black Point Park & Marina
Homestead, FL

December 9
Save Our Shores
Moss Landing State Beach
Moss Landing, CA

December 9
Blue Ocean Society
Jenness Beach Cleanup
Rye, NH

December 9
Clean Ocean Access
Gull Cove
Portsmouth, RI

December 9
NYC Parks
Leif Ericson Park
Brooklyn, New York, NY

December 9
SOLVE
Northwest Portland Industrial Area
Portland, OR

December 16
Metroparks Tacoma
Point Defiance Beach
Tacoma, WA

December 16
Ocean Hour
Pensacola Visitor Center
Pensacola, FL

December 16
NYC Parks
Henry Hudson Park
Bronx, New York, NY

December 16
Surfrider Maui
Paia Beach
Paia, Maui, HI

December 16
Hawaii Wildlife Fund
Waiohinu Park
Naalehu, Big Island, HI

December 17
Surfrider San Francisco
Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA

December 17
Save Our Shores
Cowell Beach
Santa Cruz, CA

December 17
Surfrider Virginia Beach
57th Street
Virginia Beach, VA

December 17
Tybee Clean Beach
Tybee Island, GA

December 20
SOLVE
Fox Tower
Portland, OR

December 21
Washington State University
Ft. Casey State Park
Coupeville, WA

December 23
Ocean Hour
Gulf Islands Nat'l Seashore
Gulf Breeze, FL

December 23
Pacifica Beach Coalition
Mussel Rock Beach
Daly City, CA

December 23
Surfrider Kauai
Keālia Beach
Kapaa, Kauai, HI

December 24
Sharkastics
Kukona Pl
Wailuku, Maui, HI

December 28
Washington State University
Ebey’s Landing Natn. Reserve
Coupeville, WA

December 30
NYC Parks
Henry Hudson Park
Bronx, New York, NY

December 30
SOLVE
NE Portland International Hostel
Portland, OR

December 31
Surfrider San Francisco
Baker Beach
San Francisco, CA

January 1
Surfrider Newport
Bastendorff Beach
Coos Bay, OR

 

Can't make it to a listed cleanup? Organize your own and use the Marine Debris Tracker!

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Website & Blog

Don't Forget to Register for the 6IMDC!

6IMDC Image Nov 2017


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!

Learn More


Collaboration with Native Communities

DIA Crab pot
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.


How Reducing Litter Can Help Save Corals

Coral DFG
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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Charleston County Library Turns the Page on Marine Debris

Charleston County Library
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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Innovative Marine Debris Removal Projects

GoAK Barge
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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Planet Stewards Marine Debris Webinar

NWHI Monk Seal
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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Monitoring Toolkit for Educators

Monitoring Toolkit


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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The Bow Seat Marine Debris Creative Advocacy Competition is Now Open!

Bow Seat Competition 1
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. 

Learn More