The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) is pleased to share the Gulf of Maine Marine Debris Action Plan. This document is the result of a collaborative effort between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and partners in Canada, Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, and represents a partner-led effort to guide marine debris actions in the Gulf of Maine for the next five years.

The commercial crab fishery in Louisiana is an important fishery that primarily targets adult blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Yielding an annual average landing (crabs brought to port) of 18,600,000 kg (41,000,000 pounds) from 2013 to 2017, the Louisiana blue crab fishery is frequently both the largest blue crab fishery and domestic blue crab supplier in the United States.

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is the ninth largest body of water in the world but is nearly landlocked by North America, bordered by Mexico and the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

At the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), we are often asked, “What can we do to help clean up the ocean?” Prevention is key to solving the marine debris problem over time. If you think about an overflowing sink, the first step before cleaning up the water is to turn off the tap. However, in order to prevent marine debris, we need to understand where it is coming from and that understanding starts with a solid marine debris educational foundation.