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.
This survey, the first conducted by NOAA at this scale, will establish a scientifically valid assessment of marine debris found on U.S. shorelines, including the continental United States, Caribbean, Alaska, Pacific Islands, and Great Lakes, as well as a longer-term vision for documenting trends. This project represents an investment of over $3.3 million in federal funding for marine debris assessment, and continues the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s commitment to make tangible, beneficial impacts to coastal, marine, and shoreline habitats and communities across the nation.