Following a highly competitive review process, the NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the 23 recipients of our 2020 Removal and Prevention Grant awards totaling approximately $2.7 million in federal funds. Federal funding is matched by non-federal contributions, bringing the total investment of these marine debris projects to approximately $5.9 million. Marine debris is a pervasive national and global problem that harms wildlife, navigation safety, ecosystem health, and the economy.
The Marine Debris Program offers nation-wide competitive funding opportunities for projects that improve ecological resources through the removal and prevention of marine debris. In addition to improving habitats and other ecological resources, these projects help build a foundation of knowledge and resources to change behaviors, raise awareness, and promote the long-term prevention of marine debris. The Marine Debris Program is proud to support impactful, community-driven, and cost-effective projects.
This year's funded projects include:
Removal:
California State University, Channel Islands (California, $112,499)
Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Inc. (Texas, $104,931)
Hawaii Marine Mammal Alliance, Inc. (Hawaii, $52,000)
Oregon State Marine Board (Oregon, $50,000)
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (Florida, $134,928)
North Carolina Coastal Federation, Inc. (North Carolina, $121,090)
Ocean Conservancy, Inc. (Maine, $143,139)
Ocean Plastics Recovery Project, LLC (Alaska, $205,139)
The Ocean Foundation (Puerto Rico, $150,000)
University of Delaware (Delaware, $225,079)
Prevention:
Eckerd College, Inc. (Florida, $149,928)
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (Michigan, $50,000)
Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) Foundation (Rhode Island, Washington, $105,452)
Zero Waste Oโahu (Hawaii, $146,890)
Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University (American Samoa, $85,660)
Salem Sound 2000, Inc. (Massachusetts, $136,846)
Mobile Baykeeper, Inc. (Alabama, $149,715)
Aleut Community of St. Paul Island (Alaska, $74,983)
George Mason University (Virginia, $149,999)
Zero Waste Washington (Washington, $98,475)
North Slope Borough (Alaska, $92,183)
One Cool Earth (California, $60,000)
Shedd Aquarium Society (Illinois, $72,177)
For more information on this yearโs funded projects, visit the 2020 Removal and Prevention funding pages on the Marine Debris Program website.
I am an undergraduate student of fisheries and aquaculture in Nigeria. I have passion for research into fisheries.
I will be part of the stream cleaning here in Nigeria.
Our aquatic enviroment must be clean in order to sustain our dear aqua lifes.