Dungeness Crab are an essential asset to the North Olympic Peninsula, ecologically, economically, and culturally. A side-effect of the beloved fishery is gear loss and bycatch, in Washington State an estimated 120,000 crab pots are deployed annually and there is an estimated gear loss of 10%. These lost crab pots are responsible for unnecessary crab mortality, habitat damage, and entanglement and mortality of marine mammals and other important species. Innerspace Exploration worked with a number of other partners to remove derelict crab pots from both Discovery and Sequim Bays in Washington.

San Diego Bird Alliance is a local leader that shares the value and restoration potential for tidal wetland ecosystems. In South San Diego Bay, our remnant tidal wetlands are fragmented, heavily impacted by the development around them, and changing as sea levels rise. San Diego Bird Alliance brings the community to these natural habitats to share and learn about the species that live there and how they need protection and space to live and thrive.

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 13th. Enter today and you could see your artwork featured in our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar! So get crafty, get creative, and help us raise awareness about marine debris.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce the launch of the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey, conducted in partnership with 1stMission LLC, and made possible with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our annual art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest. Keep your eye on our blog and website for information on the next contest, which opens October 15, 2024.

We are pleased to announce, with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a Request for Proposals for the Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Prevention Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA). With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will award 10-15 grants, totaling up to $100,000 for this funding competition. Individual awards will range between $5,000 and $10,000 to support initiatives that prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris in communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened by marine debris. These projects may include marine debris prevention, education, and outreach activities. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to release the “Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide” (Guide). This Guide aims to improve preparedness for responding to marine debris after typhoons and other disasters in the territory, such as Typhoon Mawar, which impacted the island in 2023.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to support Ocean Conservancy's efforts to bring people together around the globe for this annual cleanup event.