Hamburger Safari: Youth Scientists Document and Devour Data

Posted Thu, 06/06/2024 - 19:15

Vermilion Sea Institute, and the youthful team of Aventureros, are documenting and supporting local restaurants on a transition away from single-use plastics. The team picks up their to-go orders from 20 food vendors in Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico and work together to devour the data. The Hamburger Safari is a continual, youth-driven effort to reduce barriers to a sustainable and waste-free community and offer creative, novel, and place-based methodologies to do so. Throughout this work, the Aventureros have directly engaged well over 550 people in their marine debris reduction and prevention efforts. Read more about what the team discovered!

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Special Funding Opportunity: Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program

Posted Tue, 06/04/2024 - 15:31

We are pleased to announce with the BoatUS Foundation, a call for applications under the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Removal Grant Program. With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the BoatUS Foundation will award up to $7.5 million in grants to remove abandoned and derelict vessels across coastal and marine areas of the United States. 

NEW WEBINAR SERIES: Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris

Posted Tue, 05/28/2024 - 15:46

We are excited to introduce our new webinar series, Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions (TIPS) for Marine Debris. This series, featuring experts from across the country, is a crucial platform for sharing perspectives and solutions on the pressing issue of marine debris that affects tropical islands.  This webinar series will be held every other month with a focus on a different marine debris related topic. 

NOAA Marine Debris Program funds first fully in-person Urban Ocean Summit in Chennai, India

Posted Tue, 05/28/2024 - 15:24

This June, thanks to funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Ocean Conservancy and its partners will host the first in-person meeting of the 12 current Urban Ocean cities at the Urban Ocean Summit! Urban Ocean® is a capacity-building and accelerator program to end ocean plastic pollution and build more resilient cities. Urban Ocean champions circular economy principles, builds awareness of ocean plastic pollution, assesses waste management systems, and supports cities to develop projects that address the interrelated challenges of ocean plastics and resilience. The program is jointly implemented by Resilient Cities Network, Ocean Conservancy and The Circulate Initiative.

Mission Accomplished: Cleaning Kuaihelani’s Shorelines

Posted Thu, 05/23/2024 - 22:23

This month, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project completed their first mission of 2024 to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (monument). This 19 day mission was focused on removing derelict fishing gear and consumer plastics from just the shorelines of Kuaihelani (Pihemanu, Midway Atoll). The team surpassed their original goal of 35,000 pounds and removed 70,080 pounds of marine debris. Learn more about the team's time on Kuaihelani! 

Special Funding Opportunity: Hurricane Response Marine Debris Removal Fund

Posted Tue, 04/23/2024 - 09:43

With funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is seeking applications for approximately $6 million in grants to remove marine debris from impacted coastal areas. The program will primarily fund marine debris assessment, removal, restoration, and disposal activities in coastal communities in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina. Projects will prevent further damage to sensitive coastal habitats and species and reduce the impacts of marine debris on properties, community infrastructure, assets of economic importance, and navigation safety.

Breaking Down Plastic Facts and Myths for Earth Day

Posted Mon, 04/22/2024 - 09:27

Happy Earth Day from the NOAA Marine Debris Program! This week, also known as Earth Week, is centered around the theme of “Planet vs. Plastic”. As the U.S. Federal government’s lead for addressing marine debris, we compiled everything you need to know about plastic and its effects on the planet. There is a lot of information out there and we are “breaking down” some facts and common myths about plastic and marine debris. 

Kuaihelani: Taking a Closer Look at Marine Debris within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Posted Tue, 04/16/2024 - 19:36

Kuaihelani, meaning “the backbone of heaven,” describes a mythical floating island in the sky, possibly originating from the large lagoons that reflect the sky. This atoll is a Wildlife Refuge and part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The monument is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world to be classified for its cultural and ecological importance. Still, it’s also impacted by the large fishing nets, plastics, and other debris that wash up on its shores. This debris can significantly impact the atoll's wildlife and habitats, and its removal is a critical part of protecting the health and cultural heritage of this area.

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