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Check out the full 2021 Accomplishments Report on our website!
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to present our 2021 Accomplishments Report. Once a year, we like to take a moment to reflect on our Program’s mission to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris, and to recognize the achievements made by our team and our partners. Despite continued obstacles during this difficult period, the NOAA Marine Debris Program and partners adapted and expanded our efforts to achieve the ambitious goals set in our new strategic plan.
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Marine debris impacts every environment across the Great Lakes region, including wetlands, rivers, tributaries, and shorelines (Credit: NOAA).
The Great Lakes region, with its beautiful coastlines, diverse wildlife, and stunning vistas is not immune to marine debris concerns. Fortunately, our numerous partners in the region are hard at work addressing the issues of plastics, fishing gear, abandoned and derelict vessels, and other debris that impact the environment.
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Bottle caps, straws, cigarette butts, and other debris removed from the shoreline of Lake Erie in Ohio (Credit: NOAA).
In order to help raise awareness of the issue of marine debris in the Great Lakes, we’re excited to be offering the Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge for students in grades 6-12 in coastal Ohio! After learning about marine debris in the ocean and Great Lakes, and how we all may be contributing with our trash, students will create marine debris artwork from repurposed trash.
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The Lady Carolina being prepped for removal by removal crew members (Credit: Rob Jordan, Koa Consulting).
The strongest El Niño episode in the Western Pacific, since the record years of 1997 and 1998, took place in 2015. Micronesia experienced over 30 tropical cyclones, and the chances of typhoons impacting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands were significantly elevated. After several near-misses, in August 2015 Typhoon Soudelor directly impacted the island of Saipan. In its wake, it caused the initial grounding of the Lady Carolina, an 83-foot, steel-hulled fishing vessel, in Saipan Lagoon. It took a massive, coordinated effort in 2021 to finally clear the Lady Carolina from the lagoon.
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Volunteers clear tin panels and other debris following Typhoon Yutu (Credit: Mariana Islands Nature Alliance).
Throughout the year, the NOAA Marine Debris Program will spotlight each region for an entire month. Take a look back at the Pacific Islands projects we highlighted in January.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Pacific Islands Region of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawai‘i spans across 5,239,989 square miles, and is our largest region. Despite their geographic isolation, these island communities are not isolated from the issue of marine debris. Island communities face unique challenges around managing marine debris, including limited land mass, waste infrastructure, and currents that carry debris from afar. Five marine debris prevention and removal projects supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program are in progress in the Pacific Islands Region. These small communities are leading the way with large efforts.
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Check out our marine debris resources for educators, students, families, and adults and professionals (Credit: Rick Houchin Photography).
The NOAA Marine Debris Program has created an easy-to-use platform for all of our educational materials. Visit our education portal and dive into the many resources our program offers, including curricula, activities, multimedia, and fun learning opportunities!
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Abandoned and derelict vessels in a South Carolina salt marsh (Credit: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources).
In January we shared the story of the Lady Carolina, a fishing vessel grounded on a reef that took years to remove. Vessels of all shapes and sizes can be left behind and neglected for a variety of reasons, and they can negatively impact reefs, salt marshes, and other important coastal habitats. Learn more about abandoned and derelict vessels, why they are a problem, and how to prevent them.
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