|
Glass bottles, plastic waste, and other debris litter a beach (Credit: NOAA).
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the inaugural Board of Directors of the new Marine Debris Foundation. NOAA selected twelve individuals to represent diverse points of view, expertise, education, and experiences relating to the assessment, prevention, reduction, and removal of marine debris. This distinguished group will help the Marine Debris Foundation to begin operations and start augmenting federal efforts to address marine debris.
Learn More
The 7th International Marine Debris Conference launched its Call for Abstracts and Posters.
The 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC) will take place September 18-23, 2022 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This conference is one of the world’s largest and longest-running events dedicated to the issue of marine debris. The 7IMDC is organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The 7IMDC launched its Call for Abstracts and Posters, with a closing date of April 29, 2022.
Divers use lift bags to remove a derelict trap from the seafloor (Credit: Sean Davis).
Florida, also known as the Sunshine State, is home to the only living barrier reef in the continental United States and over 650 miles of scenic coastlines. Unfortunately, underwater debris, such as lost traps and fishing gear, causes damage to these fragile ecosystems and impacts local fishing, tourism, and recreational industries. The NOAA Marine Debris Program and our partners across the state are working on debris removal and prevention efforts to keep these important ecosystems healthy and free of debris.
Learn More
A sailboat grounded in Florida (Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).
Over the past year, experts from across the country shared their experiences, solutions, and lessons learned through our Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels monthly webinar series to help communities facing abandoned and derelict vessel issues. We are pleased to share that the full webinar series is now available on our website.
Learn More
Local businesses provide free pocket ashtrays to smokers (Credit: Le Beau Market).
Much of San Francisco’s beauty comes from its stunning location, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. San Francisco is also the second-most densely populated city in the United States and one of the country’s most-visited destinations. With so many people near so much water, the marine environment is especially vulnerable to all forms of human-made pollution, including cigarette butts, the most littered item in San Francisco and around the world.
Learn More
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 to showcase the impacts of marine debris on Lake Erie wildlife.
The Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge is ending soon! Entries are due on April 15, 2022.
Learn More
Check out our Monitoring Toolbox to learn how you can monitor your favorite stretch of shoreline (Credit: NOAA).
April is Citizen Science Month and a wonderful opportunity to head outdoors and participate in meaningful science! Citizen scientists have such a big impact on the success of our marine debris monitoring efforts and on our vision of a sea free of debris. Find out more about the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project and how you can get involved in monitoring a shoreline near you!
Learn More
A beachcomber collecting marine debris along a shore in the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Maine (Credit: Wells Reserve at Laudholm).
Earth Day is right around the corner, and this month is the perfect time to find opportunities to make a positive difference. Whether you’re out participating in a local cleanup, prioritizing recycling and reusing materials, or changing habits in your daily life, there are so many ways you can help prevent and reduce marine debris.
Learn More |
