The 2017 hurricane season was one of the most active with 17 named storms; 10 of those became major hurricanes. Three devastating hurricanes made landfall, one of which was Hurricane Irma.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is pleased to share the biennial update to the 2017-2023 Oregon Marine Debris Action Plan (Action Plan). This document is the result of a collaborative effort between the MDP and regional partners, including representatives from governments, tribes, non-profits, academia, and the private sector. It includes partners’ shared goals, strategies to achieve those goals, and corresponding actions to reduce marine debris in Oregon.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce our FY 2020 “Marine Debris Prevention” federal funding opportunity.

The International Coastal Cleanup is just around the corner and we are grabbing our gloves, suiting up, and heading out to clean up our beaches, Great Lakes, and waterways. This annual event, hosted by the Ocean Conservancy and supported by the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), works to bring people together from across the globe to clean up marine debris.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2020 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in first through eighth grade, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.

Following a highly competitive review process, the NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the 14 recipients of our 2019 removal and research grant awards totaling approximately $2.7 million in federal funds.

No matter where you live, your daily decisions can have a meaningful impact on the Great Lakes, waterways, and ocean near you. Everyday trash can travel from a landlocked state, down a storm drain, into a river, and out to sea. According to the International Coastal Cleanup report of 2018, items such as food wrappers, straws, and plastic take out containers all made the “top ten items collected” during last year’s cleanup. What do all of these items have in common and how can we help to lessen the amount collected? One place to start is with school lunches.

One way to describe a National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) is to consider it a “National Park of the Ocean”, and much like our park system, these ocean parks are special areas that protect important marine and freshwater ecosystems around the nation. Each year, the sanctuaries celebrate Get Into Your Sanctuary, a day or days to raise awareness about the value of our national marine sanctuaries as iconic destinations for responsible recreation through a series of special activities.