The NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to share the Southern New England Marine Debris Action Plan (Action Plan). This document is the result of a collaborative effort between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and partners across Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts, including federal, state, and nongovernmental organizations, industry, and academia. It represents a partner-led effort to guide marine debris efforts in Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts through 2029.
The coasts and waters of Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts face many of the same marine debris threats as other geographies across the Northeast Region; however, the economies and communities of Southern New England present unique opportunities to understand and address these challenges. From being a popular tourist destination with a rich textile manufacturing history, to changing fishing industries and global research efforts, Southern New England is well positioned to continue working across disciplines to implement marine debris solutions at a local and global scale.
The Action Plan has five goals, with 25 objectives that define how each goal will be achieved. The goals are:
Goal 1: Prevention and Removal
Goal 2: Research and Monitoring
Goal 3: Coordination
Goal 4: Collection and Disposition
Goal 5: Policy and Management
These goals are representative of the community’s marine debris priorities and were developed through a series of virtual workshops and partner feedback throughout 2023. This new Action Plan was built through the collaborative efforts of nearly 30 contributing organizations. Twice each year, partners will gather to review and update implementation progress as needed.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program greatly appreciates this collaborative effort. For more information, please contact Demi Fox (demi.fox@noaa.gov).