The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2020 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in first through eighth grade, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.
Following a highly competitive review process, the NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the 14 recipients of our 2019 removal and research grant awards totaling approximately $2.7 million in federal funds.
One way to describe a National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) is to consider it a “National Park of the Ocean”, and much like our park system, these ocean parks are special areas that protect important marine and freshwater ecosystems around the nation. Each year, the sanctuaries celebrate Get Into Your Sanctuary, a day or days to raise awareness about the value of our national marine sanctuaries as iconic destinations for responsible recreation through a series of special activities.
It’s National Coloring Book Day and we are celebrating by encouraging you to explore our digital educational curricula or a downloadable coloring page. There are many benefits associated with coloring, not to mention the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art or an up-cycled card for a friend. So grab that scrap paper from the recycling bin or download a page from the web, and let’s get started!
Every year, wildlife and marine habitat suffer from the negative impacts of derelict, lost, and abandoned fishing gear. Derelict gear (crab pots, fishing line, nets, etc.) can capture or entangle wildlife (a process called “ghost fishing”), damage sensitive marine habitats such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, and cause hazards to navigation.
They say that too many cooks spoil the broth, but when the broth is derelict crab pots in Washington State, the more cooks the better. Over 10,000 crab pots are estimated to be lost annually in the Puget Sound alone, and many more are lost in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and along the Pacific Coast.
NOAA’s Marine Debris Program seeks comments to inform the development of our next five-year strategic plan (Fiscal Years 2021-2025). The Program is asking for comments from July 16 to August 16, 2019.
