The NOAA Marine Debris Program Recommends 13 New Projects for Funding Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Posted Thu, 08/29/2024 - 14:05

Following a highly competitive review process, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce 13 projects recommended for funding under our NOAA Marine Debris Removal and Interception Technologies grant awards for Fiscal Year 2024. These projects represent an investment in over $23 million for marine debris removal with funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Marine debris is a pervasive national and global problem that harms wildlife, navigation safety, ecosystem health, and the economy. The transformational projects recommended under these nationwide competitive funding opportunities will not only remove marine debris, but address some of its greatest impacts by targeting the largest and most damaging debris and preventing its reaccumulation in the environment. All recipients are also encouraged to support the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion when performing their work, including working with tribal, environmental justice, and fishing communities that traditionally have been underserved.

A helicopter hovering over a barge in the open water that is piled high with trash bags full of marine debris.

A trash trap device installed in a river that has captured plastic bottles and other marine debris to prevent it from traveling to other areas.

These competitions focused on two priority areas. The first funding opportunity focused on the removal of large-scale marine debris, such as abandoned and derelict vessels and derelict fishing gear. The second funding opportunity focused on marine debris removal through the deployment and management of proven debris interception technologies.

Removal:

American Samoa Department of Port Administration (American Samoa, $3,049,396)

City of Benton Harbor (Michigan, $1,032,500)

City of Oakland (California, $3,164,649)

Gulf of Alaska Keeper (Alaska, $3,799,493)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (Washington D.C. and Maryland, $963,132)

Ocean Conservancy (Nationwide, $5,218,000)

The Ocean Foundation (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, $847,881)

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (Rhode Island, $1,500,512)

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (Washington, $1,029,285)

Interception Technologies:

Rochester Institute of Technology (New York, $912,829)

Florida State University (Florida, $677,554)

Savannah Riverkeeper Inc (Georgia, $560,965)

Galveston Bay Foundation (Texas, $505,592)

For more information on this year’s recommended projects, please visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.