A collection of crab pots (Photo Credit: NOAA).

Partner Updates

Hauling marine debris from remote beaches on the Quinault Reservation (Photo Credit: Lee First).

Twin Harbors Waterkeeper and Volunteers Complete Fifth Cleanup of Remote Beaches on the Quinault Reservation

In April, Twin Harbors Waterkeeper and their amazing volunteer team spent two days hauling debris from remote beaches on the Quinault Reservation out on rugged trails to an old logging road. A few people hauled packs that weighed 100 pounds. This cleanup broke their record for a two-day haul out, removing 4,680 pounds for a total of over 17,000 pounds of marine debris removed from the area so far since 2023—and they plan to keep it up! Twin Harbors Waterkeeper has special permission from the Quinault Tribal Council to access these beaches, and is very grateful to be able to spend time in these areas. Trash disposal was provided by Pacific Shellfish Inc.

Lil Toot, a cute little houseboat past its prime at the Port of Friday Harbor (Photo Credit: Kari Koski, SJC DVP Coordinator).

San Juan County Derelict Vessel Program and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Voluntary Turn-In Program

The Vessel Turn-In Program is managed by DNR to help prevent boats from becoming derelict or abandoned even when people don’t have financial resources to legally dispose of their old boats on their own. This important program is open year-round to qualifying Washington residents. This spring, San Juan County’s Derelict Vessel Program assisted DNR with rounding up five vessels whose owners qualified for the program and gathered them all together at the Port of Friday Harbor for an efficient dismantling and disposal process, saving everyone time and resources while preventing marine debris.

Know of any old boats that might qualify for this program? Check out DNR’s Vessel Turn-In Program.

WCC crew transporting and loading debris (Photo Credit: Washington Department of Natural Resources).

WA DNR Marine Debris Removal Program

In April, the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Marine Debris Removal Program (MDRP) partnered with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe to remove defuse creosote and marine debris from Dungeness Spit in Sequim, WA. Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe co-manages Protection Island and Dungeness Spit. For two weeks the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crew surveyed and removed debris via hand hauling, utility vehicles, and landing crafts along the 5-mile-long sandbar. In total we removed about 20,000 lbs or 10 tons of creosote treated wood and marine debris.

The survey tool WA DNR utilizes is a free mobile app called MyCoast which allows beach goers to report abandoned boats, creosote treated debris, and large marine debris. Help MDRP prioritize cleanup sites and be our eyes and ears on the shorelines!

Collected debris from the Outer Islands during the Spring 2025 Great Islands Cleanup (Photo Credit: Kari Koski).

Neighbors Unite for Cleaner Shores at the Great Islands Clean-Up

Over 300 volunteers across San Juan County joined the Plastic Free Salish Sea movement during the 2025 Spring Great Islands Clean-Up, showing how thinking globally and acting locally can make a difference. Families, kayak groups, residents, and visitors — some traveling all the way from Seattle — cleaned 170 miles of beaches, roadways, and trails on Decatur, Jones, Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, Shaw, Stuart, Turn, Waldron, and Yellow Islands. Friends of the San Juans hosted a Great Nurdle Hunt at Jackson’s Beach, targeting microplastics while other participants played Trash Bingo by finding all sorts of interesting litter. Altogether, the community removed roughly 2,925 pounds of debris, protecting the health of our local shorelines and the Salish Sea.

A day of successful pot removals at Port Gardner, WA (Photo Credit: Northwest Straits Foundation).

Derelict Crab Pot Removal Season Underway

Each year the Northwest Straits Foundation (NWSF) takes advantage of a window between crabbing seasons to clean up high priority areas of derelict crab pots in the Salish Sea. The first project of the season was recently completed, removing 113 derelict crab pots from 620 acres of marine habitat in the popular crabbing area of Port Gardner located in Snohomish County, WA. NWSF found 117 Dungeness crab trapped in those pots, providing a snapshot in time of what this lost gear can do over the long term.

We have a busy season ahead with removal efforts planned for Port Townsend Bay, Kilisut Harbor, Dungeness Bay, and the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve. Along with an outreach campaign educating crabbers on best practices to prevent gear loss. Learn more about the Northwest Straits Foundation Derelict Gear Program here.

Farewell to COASST's Marine Debris Survey Module

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) has suspended their marine debris survey module effective January 31, 2025. We thank all our volunteers for the time and energy they have put towards collecting this dataset over the last decade. The COASST marine debris dataset will be published through NOAA and the National Centers for Environmental information and is currently accessible to partners through data use agreements. For more information please read the COASST blog or visit the COASST website.

NOAA Marine Debris Program Updates

Special Funding Opportunity: Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the William and Mary’s Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is seeking applications for up to $2,950,000 in grants to remove derelict fishing traps throughout coastal waterways of the United States while collecting data to prevent future gear loss. Projects may range from $50,000 to $200,000. Projects throughout the coastal United States, including United States territories and Freely Associated States, are eligible for consideration. Proposals are due on May 30, 2025 by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). For more information on the application process, visit the William and Mary’s Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science website.

PreK-12 Teachers: Promote Watershed and Ocean Stewardship in Your School or Local Community By Becoming a NOAA Ocean Guardian School Through a school- or community-based project, students work to make a difference in the health and protection of their local watersheds, the ocean, and special ocean areas like national marine sanctuaries. Participation without funding: Any school (PreK-12) in the United States may apply to participate without funding. Participation with funding: Grant amounts range from $1,000 - $4,000 per school depending on the program region and funding year. Any school (PreK-12) from the following locations may apply for an Ocean Guardian School grant. Washington counties: Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor and Pacific Apply by July 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 school year.

The articles written by partners are not the opinions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and do not imply that NOAA recommends or endorses those expressed by partner organizations. These opinions and their associated actions will be carried out by interested partner organizations and are not affiliated with NOAA or the NOAA Marine Debris Program.