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Artwork by Betty L. (Grade 8, Florida), winner of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! We received many colorful, fun, and informative entries from around the country, and although we wish we could showcase them all, we are excited to share the winners of this year’s contest with you.
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Registration is now open for the 7th International Marine Debris Conference. Learn more about fees, online options, and discounts.
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.
Registration for the 7IMDC is now open! Take advantage of early bird, student, and online-only registration discounts.
Fishing gear can become lost in the marine environment due to storm action, propellers, interaction with mobile fishing gear, and deteriorating lines (Credit: NOAA).
As temperatures slowly warm, and the Earth begins to thaw, springtime energy is evident across the Northeast Region. Though planning, cleanups, debris sorting, outreach, and research have been ongoing all winter, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s grant-funded partners across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are ramping up for the summer field season and we have a lot to share!
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A vessel left beached after the wake of Hurricane Irma in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Credit: U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources).
The picturesque islands in the Caribbean can be considered the perfect dream vacation getaway for many, but this natural paradise isn’t free from the issues of marine debris. Islands in the Caribbean are vulnerable to hurricanes, and communities are often impacted by disaster debris. Other factors, such as a dependence on imported goods and solid waste management challenges, increase the chance of unwanted debris littering their coasts. With the support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, our partners in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are passionately working to remove existing debris, develop strategies to prevent future marine debris, and create tools that empower communities to take local action.
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Derelict vessels and other debris in a Panama City marina following Hurricane Michael (Credit: NOAA).
It’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week! As we approach the 2022 hurricane season, we are sharing NOAA Marine Debris Program resources to help you prepare for storms and prevent storm-generated debris from accumulating in waterways and on shorelines. Hurricanes and typhoons are among nature's most powerful and destructive events, and when these natural disasters strike they can create massive amounts of debris. That’s why the NOAA Marine Debris Program is participating in Hurricane Preparedness Week and working with coastal states and U.S. territories to help communities prepare for hurricanes and prevent and respond to marine debris.
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Trash can become marine debris when it's not disposed of properly, such as being added to an overflowing trash can. Winds and rains can easily carry it into nearby waters (Credit: NOAA).
People aren’t the only ones who travel the world! A simple plastic bottle can easily travel from inland areas into the far reaches of our ocean as marine debris. Picture a lovely summer day. The park is full of happy people enjoying themselves. A few stop at a local restaurant and pick up take-out or drinks to eat outside. Some of them get ready to responsibly dispose of their trash in the appropriate bin, only to find that it’s full! They neatly place their waste on top of the growing pile around the trash can. After all, we’re miles from the ocean—how far could this one bottle even go?
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Plants are a great Mother’s Day gift… not only do they add color and texture to your home or yard, they are great for Mother Earth by capturing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. A win-win for everyone! (Credit: NOAA)
April showers bring May flowers… and Mother’s Day! This year, in addition to celebrating mom and all the wonderful women in your life, let’s also share a little love with Mother Earth by reducing waste and the potential for creating marine debris. Take a look back at this blog that highlights some ways you can shower any mother with love.
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A group of boobies sit on top of a mass of derelict fishing nets while the marine debris team works in the background (Credit: NOAA).
It’s almost World Migratory Bird Day! Coming up on Saturday, May 14, we are highlighting the importance of migratory bird species and celebrating the ways they connect our world. Unfortunately, the world of birds and people can collide in the ocean and Great Lakes, where marine debris can be found in even the most remote places, including far-off islands where seabirds find shelter and breeding grounds.
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