NOAA Marine Debris Program e-Newsletter | February 2018

February 2018

Students in Erie, PA participate in a cleanup in their community (Photo: School District of the City of Erie).

In This Issue

New Year, Less Waste

Microplastic Pollution

2017 Accomplishments

Marine Debris Ingestion

Undergraduate Curriculum

Advocacy Competition

Upcoming Cleanups

Quick Links

Marine Debris Website
Marine Debris Blog
MDMAP Toolbox
ADV InfoHub
Clearinghouse

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

February 3
Ocean Hour
Gulf Islands Nat'l Seashore
Gulf Breeze, FL

February 3
Keep North Miami Beautiful
Clyde W. Judson, Jr. Community Center
North Miami, FL

February 3
808 Cleanups
Nimitz Beach
Kapolei, O'ahu, HI


February 3
City of Seaside
Seaside Beach
Seaside, OR

February 3
Clean Ocean Access
Gull Cove
Portsmouth, RI

February 3
Surfrider Charleston
Sullivan's Island, SC

February 4
Pacifica Beach Coalition
Montara Beach
Montara, CA

February 4
Save Our Shores
Davenport Beach
Davenport, CA

February 6
808 Cleanups
Kaʻiwi Scenic Shoreline
Honolulu, O'ahu, HI

February 7
Surfrider Newport
Portland, OR

February 7
Puget Soundkeeper
Northwest Outdoor Center
Seattle, WA

February 9
Texas Adopt-A-Beach
South Padre Island, TX

February 10
Orange County Coastkeeper
Huntington State Beach
Huntington, CA

February 10
Ocean Hour
Bay Bluffs Park
Pensacola, FL

February 10
Florida State Parks
Bill Baggs Cape State Park
Key Biscayne, FL

February 10
SOLVE
Northwest Portland
Portland, OR

February 10
Blue Ocean Society
Jenness Beach
Rye, NH

February 10
Texas Adopt-A-Beach
Coastal Bend Area, TX

February 11
Tybee Clean Beach
Marine Science Center
Tybee Island, GA

February 16
Save Our Shores
Elkhorn Slough
Moss Landing, CA

February 17
Weeks Bay Foundation
Weeks Bay Reserve
Fairhope, AL

February 17
Heal the Bay
Santa Monica Beach Pier
Santa Monica, CA

February 17
808 Cleanups
Kahuku Golf Course Beach Park
Kahuku, O'ahu, HI

February 17
NYC Parks
Henry Hudson Park
Bronx, New York, NY

February 18
Save Our Shores
Sunny Cove
Twin Lakes, CA

February 18
Surfrider San Francisco
Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA

February 20
808 Cleanups
Kaʻiwi Scenic Shoreline
Honolulu, O'ahu, HI


February 24
Mobile Baykeeper
One Mile Creek
Mobile, AL

February 24
Pacifica Beach Coalition
Pillar Point
Half Moon Bay, CA

February 24
South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals
Oleta River State Park
North Miami Beach, FL

February 24
Clean Ocean Access
Sachuest Beach
Middletown, RI

February 25
Sharkastics
Kukona Place
Wailuku, Maui, HI

February 28
Surfrider Kauai
Aliomanu Estates
Anahola, Kauai, HI

 

 

 

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

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Website & Blog

New Year, New Goals, Less Waste

Zero Waste Coffee
Bring a mug for your morning coffee. At even just two drinks a week, you will prevent over 100 disposable cups, lids, and drink sleeves from entering the waste stream over the course of one year. (Photo: NOAA)


It’s a new year with new horizons! We are bringing you some 2018 motivation with five goals for reducing your footprint this year. Try adopting one, and focus on it for a month. After you get the hang of a change in routine, it won’t be hard to meet your waste reduction goals!

Learn More


Microplastic Pollution: A complex mixture

Microplastics beach
Microplastic debris on a beach (Photo: NOAA).


Microplastics come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be made with a range of different chemical ingredients. What do these differences mean for the animals that ingest them? Our partners are working to uncover the effects of a variety of microplastics on freshwater clams.

Learn More


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.

Learn More


Marine Debris Ingestion

Ingestion
Occurrence and Health Effects of Anthropogenic Debris Ingested by Marine Organisms (Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Service/ Pete Leary)


An estimated 26 marine mammal species, including toothed whales, manatees, and multiple seal species, as well as all sea turtle species have been confirmed to ingest marine debris. Over one-third of sea bird species ingest plastic. Research to-date has characterized the types, sources and impacts of ingestible debris, yet the overall effects on animals remain poorly understood.

Learn More


Marine Debris Undergraduate Curriculum

Shore to State House 3
A student collects data on a piece of marine debris. (Photo Credit: Katharine Owens, University of Hartford)


The From Shore to State House curriculum was the product of a project with the University of Hartford to create an open source, replicable, college-level service learning course to improve knowledge, lead outreach, inform policy, and inspire change on the issue of marine debris. The curriculum guides students to prevent marine debris and develop policy alternatives to discuss with state legislators.

Learn More


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