Check out the fifth update of the Hawaii Marine Debris Action Plan.
We are pleased to share the fifth and final update to the current 10-year Hawai‘i Marine Debris Action Plan! This document is the result of a productive and collaborative effort between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and regional partners, including representatives from governments, non-profits, academia, and the private sector. It includes partners’ shared goals, strategies to achieve those goals, and corresponding actions for the next two years.
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In the beautiful remote reaches of Alaska, disposing of debris is harder than collecting it (Photo: Port Heiden Tribal Environmental Marine Debris Program).
The small, remote communities that dot Alaska’s coastline and Bering Sea islands can be as harsh as they are beautiful. The Marine Debris Program has partners in these regions that are hardy and hard-working, but marine debris can still be a huge challenge. The remoteness of these places and the severe weather means that disposing of the debris is one of the biggest issues. We talked to partners in three Bering Sea communities about what happens to the debris once it’s removed from the ocean and shoreline.
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The Texas Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide completes our guides for the Gulf states.
We are pleased to release the “Texas Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: Comprehensive Guidance Document," the final emergency response guide for the Gulf of Mexico states. The Texas Guide is a product of a collaborative process with local, state, and federal agencies and aims to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following an acute waterway debris incident in coastal Texas.
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This sample collected from the Gulf of Mexico contains microplastics (Photo: NOAA).
We know animals out in the ocean are eating plastic, and many of us have seen the pictures of plastic in the bellies of sea birds, sea turtles, and whales. Larger pieces of plastic can become stuck in an animal’s stomach, making it hard for them to eat. But what happens to microplastics once they are ingested by wildlife?
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Download the 2019 Marine Debris Calendar on our website now! (Cover art by art contest winner Emma M., Grade 6, Pennsylvania).
The NOAA Marine Debris Program 2019 Marine Debris Calendar is available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.
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What's Inside the MDMAP Get Started Toolbox?
Want to contribute to our marine debris efforts through citizen science? Open up the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Toolbox and see what’s inside to help you get started!
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