Students in Ohio - Get Ready for the Ohio Marine Debris Art Challenge!

Posted Thu, 02/04/2021 - 11:00

In order to help raise awareness of the issue, 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.

New Monthly Webinar: Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels

Posted Wed, 02/03/2021 - 11:00

We are excited to announce our new monthly webinar series, Salvaging Solutions to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels. Every fourth Wednesday of the month at 3 pm ET, the webinar will feature experts on a topic related to abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs), to share perspectives and solutions from across the country on common ADV issues.

Tags
Walking the Talk by Reducing Waste at Conferences Shanelle.Naone Thu, 01/28/2021 - 11:00

Although we are not attending in-person events right now, conferences and other large events can generate large amounts of waste from food and beverage, registration, travel, lodging, giveaways, and other activities. At the NOAA Marine Debris Program, we recognize that environmental organizations and scientists have a particular responsibility to reduce the amount of waste generated through these events. In an article recently published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, we highlight our commitment to “walking the talk” by reducing waste at events and preventing potential sources of marine debris.

Reducing Waste by Building Habits at Home

Posted Tue, 01/05/2021 - 11:00

Practicing waste reduction at home builds a strong foundation for reducing waste in our everyday lives. While spending more time at home this winter, we can examine our daily habits and think about the ways we can be more sustainable. Reducing our personal waste is an important part of preventing potential marine debris; let’s kick off our new year with resolving to do so.

Tags

Community-Driven Activities Create a Strong Foundation for Successful Marine Debris Campaigns in Alaska

Posted Tue, 11/24/2020 - 11:00

The Pribilof Islands are among the most unique and important places in the world. Three of the five islands making up the Pribilof Islands are uninhabited, but two of the largest islands, St. George and St. Paul Islands, host vibrant communities that are predominantly Unangax̂/Unangan. However, these communities have long shouldered the burdensome and overwhelming responsibility of removing tens of thousands of tons of debris, much of which originates far from the communities themselves. Because of the multitude of threats resulting from marine debris pollution that constantly accumulates on the coastlines of St. George and St. Paul, these communities have developed and expanded locally-driven marine debris prevention and removal efforts.

NOAA Marine Debris Program Announces New Five-Year Strategic Plan

Posted Thu, 11/19/2020 - 11:00

We are pleased to share our new Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2021-2025! This document highlights how the Marine Debris Program will work with dedicated staff and partners for the next five years to make a measurable change toward reaching our vision: the global ocean and its coasts free from the impacts of marine debris.

Partnering with Native Communities to Take On Marine Debris Shanelle.Naone Thu, 11/12/2020 - 10:00

Indigenous communities have a deep understanding of and relationship with the natural environment, which has fostered expert and nuanced traditional ecological knowledge, and shaped cultural practices and identity. NOAA recognizes the importance of indigenous peoples' traditional knowledge for understanding the environment, adapting to environmental change, and improving the health of environments that we all depend on. The Marine Debris Program (MDP) is proud to work with indigenous communities in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest to understand and reduce the impacts of marine debris through projects that prevent and remove marine debris.