In This Issue

New Emergency Response Guide for USVI

Urban Ocean Initiative Welcomes First Cohort of Cities

Winners of the Ohio Marine Debris PSA Competition

Town of Beaufort Marine Debris Removal

Hurricanes and Marine Debris on Islands

Quick Links

Marine Debris Website
Marine Debris Blog
MDMAP Toolbox
ADV InfoHub
Clearinghouse

Marine Debris Tracker Mobile Application

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

Digital Debris Educational Resources

Explore marine debris topics, such as garbage patches, right from home!

Parents, students, and teachers: did you know we have free activities, videos, and more, all available online? Learn about marine debris and have some fun, wherever you might be, with ‘digital debris’ educational resources for all ages!

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Want to hear more from the NOAA MDP? Follow us on:

@NOAAMarineDebris

@NOAADebris

@NOAADebris

Website & Blog

New U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide

Check out the new Guide!

We are pleased to release the U.S. Virgin Islands Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide: Comprehensive Guidance Document, a product of a collaborative process with territorial and federal agencies. The Guide aims to improve preparedness for response and recovery operations following any natural disaster or event that generates large amounts of marine debris in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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Urban Ocean Initiative Welcomes First Cohort of Cities

Single-use plastics and glass on a beach (Photo: Iracema Araujo/Ocean Conservancy).

We are proud to announce with Ocean Conservancy the first five "learning cities" chosen for the Urban Ocean initiative. This initiative, supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, collaborates with cities that are the most susceptible to plastic marine debris by improving waste management systems.

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Congratulations to the Winners of the Ohio Marine Debris PSA Competition!

Check out the winning videos on our website!

We are excited to announce the winners of the fifth annual Communicating for a Clean Future: Ohio Marine Debris Challenge! This contest is open every year to students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in recognized public, private, and home schools in Ohio’s Lake Erie coastal communities.

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Town of Beaufort Restored through Marine Debris Removal

Sailing vessel “Running Free” was abandoned and washed ashore at the Rachel Carson Reserve three times before it was removed through a cleanup project (Photo: North Carolina Coastal Reserve).

In Beaufort, North Carolina, abandoned vessels left behind by owners and lost during storms impact the Rachel Carson Reserve, recreation, and navigation safety. They can also be a complex legal challenge to remove. The Town of Beaufort teamed up with the North Carolina Coastal Reserve and local partners to take on the problem and remove almost 127,000 pounds of marine debris!

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The Challenges of Hurricanes and Marine Debris on Islands

Two sisters observe the aftermath of Typhoon Yutu in the Mariana Islands (Photo: Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance).

Living on a tropical island means access to beautiful beaches and sunny days, but residents can also be vulnerable to hurricanes and typhoons that threaten lives, strain resources, and create large amounts of marine debris. We provide tools to better prepare, respond, and reduce impacts from natural disasters to island communities.

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