1

2018

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Marine Debris Program

Accomplishments Report

NAT OI NAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRAT OI N

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Table of Contents

Letter from the Director........................................ 3

2018 By-the-Numbers .......................................... 4

Prevention ............................................................ 5

Removal................................................................ 9

Research............................................................... 15

Regional Coordination.......................................... 17

Emergency Response........................................... 18

Sixth International Marine Debris Conference...... 19

Ocean Plastics Lab............................................... 20

Looking Ahead...................................................... 21

Photo Credits........................................................ 24

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3

Letter from the Director

The global issue of marine debris faces an equally exciting, yet critical time. Every day, 

more and more people are becoming aware of the sobering reality of the devastation of 

marine debris and are actively engaging in solutions. Unfortunately, the amount of debris 

entering our ocean is not slowing down. This demonstrates the need for and importance 

of the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s work, and that of our national and international 

partners. 

Every day we work to achieve our Program’s vision of a global ocean and its coasts free 

from the impacts of marine debris through prevention, removal, research, emergency 

response, and regional coordination. Over the past year, our Program and partners have 

made progress on many fronts: developing innovative solutions; increasing outreach and 

educational efforts aimed at building awareness and affecting behavior change; removing 

abandoned and derelict vessels and fishing gear; carrying out various research projects; 

completing new marine debris emergency response plans; and convening worldwide 

stakeholders at the Sixth International Marine Debris Conference.

The collaborative partnerships and achievements that have taken place during the past 

year are truly inspiring. As we continue to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of 

marine debris, I am encouraged by our accomplishments and lessons learned. It is clear 

that we have reached a turning point, and that marine debris is widely understood as a 

pervasive issue across the world. I am proud of the role the NOAA Marine Debris Program 

and our partners have played, and will continue to play, in addressing this global issue.

Nancy Wallace

Director, NOAA Marine Debris Program

3
2018 By-the-Numbers

More than

2,400

metric tons of 

debris removed

17,000+

students reached

340

teachers

reached

7

marine debris 

action plans now 

available

8

marine debris 

emergency 

response plans 

now available

330+

Marine Debris 

Monitoring and 

Assessment 

Project survey 

sites

4
5

Prevention

Prevention efforts are the ultimate solution to marine debris, working to stop the problem 

at its source. The NOAA Marine Debris Program supports prevention projects and works 

with partners around to country to create innovative solutions, inspire people of all ages, 

and create lasting changes in behaviors related to common marine debris items.

Marine Debris Creative 

Advocacy Competition

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs 

implemented a new Marine Debris 

Creative Advocacy Competition. The 

competition challenged teens across 

the nation to use their creative skills to 

design and implement a project that 

reduces or prevents marine debris at 

their school or in their neighborhood 

to create meaningful, measurable, and 

inspirational change.

168

students 

participated 

in two 

competitions

Received 

entries from

14

U.S. states

5
6

Prevention

Breaking Down Barriers 

in Coastal Ohio

Through a community-based 

social marketing project, the City 

of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of 

Sustainability worked with partners 

to identify barriers to proper 

disposal of common marine debris 

items found on Lake Erie beaches 

in Cleveland, including single-use 

plastic beverage bottles and bags. 

Work also involved the development 

of a social marketing campaign: 

Don’t Break the Lake. The ultimate 

goal of this project was to achieve 

lasting changes in behavior that 

will reduce littering and the use of 

plastics, and encouraged proper 

disposal.

Engaging Students through 

STEM in the Gulf of Maine

In the Northeast, the Gulf of Maine 

Lobster Foundation implemented 

a multifaceted STEM program that 

focuses on ocean literacy and marine 

debris. Through this program, students 

carried out projects documenting the 

movement of debris in coastal waters 

and stormwater run-off, culminating in 

a Youth Summit where students shared 

their results and worked to create 

marine debris action plans for their 

communities. 

40

students 

participated 

in the Youth 

Summit

More than

1,000

volunteers 

participated in 

cleanups

6
7

Prevention

Student-Designed 

Campaign in Falmouth, MA

Sea Education Association, in 

partnership with the Falmouth Water 

Stewards’ Skip the Straw initiative, 

supported a student-led effort to 

reduce consumption of single-use 

items in the Woods Hole community. 

After learning about marine debris and 

conducting social science research, 

the students created a campaign, 

“Trash Shouldn’t Splash,” designed 

to change ingrained habits and share 

messages with restaurants and their 

customers. The Trash Shouldn’t 

Splash toolkit contains resources 

other businesses, schools, and towns 

may use to expand the program 

across the region.

11

participating 

“Trash Shouldn’t 

Splash” 

businesses

104

skip the 

straw pledges 

gathered

Engaging Communities in 

the U.S. Virgin Islands

The University of the Virgin Islands 

implemented a project to reduce 

land-based sources of marine debris 

on the islands of St. Thomas and 

St. Croix. The University partnered 

with Oregon Sea Grant to modify an 

existing marine debris curriculum to 

be locally relevant to the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, resulting in a targeted ridgeto-reef and watershed educational 

and outreach program that engaged 

partners, territorial educators, school 

children, and graduate students.

More than

2,600

K-12 students 

reached Engaged 

93

teachers

7
8

Prevention

Bilingual Marine Debris 

Awareness in Texas

Sea Turtle, Inc. is working on South 

Padre Island to raise awareness of 

marine debris impacts to the five 

endangered sea turtle species in the 

Gulf of Mexico through a bilingual 

educational campaign and community 

cleanups. Sea Turtle, Inc. is installing 

signage and an interactive permanent 

marine debris display, which is 

available in both Spanish and English, 

to reach visitors, recreational fishers, 

and K-12 students in the Lower Laguna 

Madre. 

Nearly

1,600

K-12 students 

reached

10

bilingual 

marine debris 

informational 

signs installed

Reducing Waste in the 

Salinas River Watershed

In Central California, One Cool Earth 

worked with students and educators to 

implement recycling, composting, and 

waste reduction programs that allowed 

students to measure the difference 

they made in their schools. Through 

this project, students from 15 inland 

schools were able to connect with the 

ocean and understand their impact 

on the Salinas River watershed and 

the ocean. As a result of student-led 

outreach, the entire Atascadero Unified 

School District agreed to replace plastic 

foam trays with a recyclable alternative.

7,000

K-12 students 

participated

15

waste audits 

completed 

8
Removal

Once debris is in the marine environment, it’s imperative that it is removed to minimize its 

damaging effects. The NOAA Marine Debris Program supports community-based debris 

removal efforts annually. Dedicated ocean stewards remove all types of marine debris, 

ranging from general debris found on beaches, to abandoned and derelict vessels. 

Restoring Remote Alaskan 

Shorelines

The Sitka Sound Science Center 

worked with remote native 

communities in the Bering Sea to 

remove marine debris from isolated 

Alaskan coastlines. This multi-year 

effort restored critical habitat by 

removing derelict fishing gear and 

conducting local and regional outreach 

to increase the awareness of the 

impacts of marine debris. Further 

outreach focused on identifying new 

methods for transportation of debris to 

mainland Alaska using available space 

on shipping and fishing vessels. 

Nearly

125

metric tons of 

debris removed

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10

Removal

Net Patrols in Hawaii

The Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund (HWF) 

removed marine debris from 

coastlines on the islands of Hawai‘i, 

Kaua‘i, Maui, and Lāna‘i. Through this 

project, HWF led cleanup activities 

and derelict fishing net and large 

debris patrols, while simultaneously 

engaging hundreds of community 

volunteers and various stakeholders 

around the state. Removed marine 

debris has been recycled, reused, 

and properly disposed of through 

different support programs, including 

the Hawai‘i Nets-to-Energy Program.

More than

155

metric tons of 

debris removed

More than

500

net and large 

debris patrols

Removing Sunken Vessels 

in Neah Bay

In Washington, the Makah Indian Tribe 

removed three sunken vessels that 

created navigational hazards and an 

environmental threat in the Makah 

Marina within the Makah Indian Tribe 

Reservation. The Tribe led efforts to 

successfully eliminate these hazards 

and avoid disintegration of the vessels 

through a contracted salvage firm. 

Tribal staff continues to conduct long 

term education and public outreach 

efforts on the negative impacts of 

abandoned and derelict vessels.

More than

330

metric tons of 

debris removed

30

metric tons of 

metal recycled

10
Removal

Removing Fishing Gear in 

Tribal Fishing Grounds

On Washington’s outer coast, The 

Nature Conservancy worked with 

the Quinault Indian Nation to remove 

derelict crab pots, lost crab pot lines, 

and buoys from 155 square miles of 

nearshore waters. In order to prevent 

further damage to these culturally 

and economically important areas, 

they created a derelict fishing gear 

reporting and recovery program and 

conducted education and outreach 

efforts on how to report and recover 

lost pots.

More than

1,300

crab pots and 

lines removed

Created a 

Quinault Indian 

Nation crab pot 

loss prevention 

program

Kayak Removal in Central 

California

Save Our Shores removed hard 

to access debris from the Pajaro 

River, Elkhorn Slough, and Salinas 

River, vital watersheds that feed into 

California’s Monterey Bay National 

Marine Sanctuary and are known to be 

hotspots for trash, agricultural waste, 

and marine debris. Volunteers and 

community members participated 

in paddleboard- and kayak-based 

waterway cleanups, targeting areas 

where illegal dumping is common. 

Save Our Shores also conducted 

outreach to local schools, community 

events, and agricultural companies.

More than

2

metric tons of 

debris removed 

by kayak

More than

220

community 

volunteers 

participated in 

cleanups 11
12

Removal

Stopping Bi-national Debris 

in California

In the Tijuana River Valley, the 

Southwest Wetlands Interpretive 

Association built off a previous 

successful project to capture, remove, 

and prevent trash at the border 

between the United States and Mexico 

by upgrading existing trash capture 

infrastructure, removing accumulated 

waste, and leading community-based 

cleanup events. The project targeted 

debris at its source by working with 

international partners in Mexico on 

marine debris education and outreach 

efforts.

More than

530

community 

volunteers 

participated in 

cleanups

Nearly

18.5

metric tons of 

debris removed 

from the river 

valley

Tackling Derelict Vessels in 

Puerto Rico

Abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) 

are a problem in Fajardo Bay, Puerto 

Rico, creating serious navigational, 

ecological, and economic threats. The 

Puerto Rico Department of Natural 

and Environmental Resources (DNER) 

helped to protect and restore coral reef 

and seagrass habitats by removing 

five ADVs in the nearshore waters of 

Fajardo Bay. In order to prevent further 

ADVs in Puerto Rico, DNER conducted 

stakeholder coordination meetings, 

as well as a cost-free nautical chart 

workshop to teach attendees how to 

interpret and use a nautical chart.

17

metric tons of 

debris removed

Hosted

6

stakeholder 

coordination 

meetings

12
Removal

Restoring Turtle Habitat 

in Biscayne Bay

The Coastal Cleanup Corporation 

led a two-year effort in Biscayne 

National Park to remove marine 

debris from critical sea turtle 

nesting beaches and surrounding 

seagrass, and monitor sea turtle 

nesting activity. Preliminary sea 

turtle nesting data suggests that the 

reduction of debris in the Park may 

be correlated with an increase in the 

number of successful loggerhead 

sea turtle nests, a decrease in the 

number of false nesting attempts, 

and an increase in the percentage of 

hatchlings which emerged.

More than

6.8

metric tons of 

debris removed

More than

240

community 

volunteers 

participated

Using UAS to Locate Debris 

in North Carolina

In remote North Carolina Coastal 

Reserves, finding and removing marine 

debris can be a challenge. Partnering 

with Duke University, the NC Coastal 

Reserve used unmanned aerial 

systems (UAS) to map the islands of 

the Rachel Carson Reserve for the 

purposes of identifying and prioritizing 

the removal of medium and large 

debris items. Habitat damage caused 

by the debris was monitored from the 

air and on the ground.

Nearly

6.2

metric tons of 

debris removed Mapped

2,300

acres for debris 

using UAS

13
14

Removal

Building a Crab Pot 

Recovery Program in 

North Carolina

The North Carolina Coastal 

Federation partnered with North 

Carolina Marine Patrol and 

commercial watermen to create a 

derelict crab pot recovery program 

in the Albemarle and Pamlico 

Sounds during the annual fishery 

closure period. Due to the success 

of these efforts, the North Carolina 

General Assembly funded a statewide expansion of the program 

in 2017 and 2018, strengthening 

partnerships with the watermen and 

engaging with volunteers across 

the state through annual shoreline 

cleanups. 

Over

8,500

crab pots 

removed and 

recycled

Taking on Lobster Traps 

in the Central Long Island 

Sound

Cornell University Cooperative 

Extension worked with local 

lobstermen in the Central Long Island 

Sound to remove abandoned and 

derelict lobster traps in commercial 

fishing areas during the first year of 

their project. Through this project, the 

lobstermen deployed a specialized 

longline grapple system to retrieve 

derelict pots, the species found inside 

were recorded, all live animals were 

immediately released, and the traps 

were recycled.

8.6

metric tons of 

debris removed 380

lobster traps 

removed and 

recycled

14
15

Research

Although marine debris is a global issue, there are significant gaps in our understanding 

of the problem. The NOAA Marine Debris Program funds research projects across the 

country that work to fill these gaps and answer some of our greatest questions about 

marine debris, including movement and distribution, chemical impacts to wildlife, 

economic impacts, and more.

Understanding 

Microplastics in the 

Mississippi 

Researchers from Texas A&M 

University Corpus Christi collected 

water samples from locations along 

the Mississippi River to quantify and 

characterize microplastic debris 

that may eventually flow into the 

Gulf of Mexico. The team developed 

a special protocol for collecting 

microplastic samples from high flow 

rivers with high concentrations of 

sediment and large floating debris, 

which was published in the Journal 

of Visualized Experiments. The team 

is halfway through visual sorting and 

identification of microplastics from the 

samples. Preliminary analyses suggest 

that both water height (river stage) 

and areas where multiple rivers meet 

can influence the concentration of 

microplastics in the water. 

15
16

Research

Understanding Marine Debris on U.S. 

Shorelines

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research 

Organisation (CSIRO) carried out a rigorous statistical analysis 

of marine debris shoreline monitoring datasets from the Ocean 

Conservancy and the Marine Debris Program. Through modeling, 

this project identified geographic patterns and trends in marine 

debris distribution, assessed marine debris management 

actions, and produced recommendations to improve marine 

debris monitoring protocols. From this in-depth analysis, it was 

estimated that at any given moment, there are between 20 

million and 1.8 billion marine debris items along the shoreline of 

the continental United States, with marine debris hotspots found 

on shorelines in the Gulf of Mexico, California, and in the MidAtlantic. Analysis of NOAA’s data showed that container deposit 

legislation for plastic bottles in Hawaii, Oregon, and California 

was effective in reducing the amount of plastic bottles found on Marine Debris Monitoring the shorelines of those states.

The Marine Debris Monitoring and 

Assessment Project (MDMAP) is 

a rigorous citizen science initiative 

that engages NOAA partners and 

volunteers across the United States 

and the world in standardized surveys 

for marine debris items larger than 

2.5 cm, helping us answer some 

fundamental questions about the types 

and distribution of debris on shorelines. 

In 2018, 21 new partners contributed 

shoreline monitoring data to the 

MDMAP database, including a site 

in the Bahamas, where previously no 

MDMAP monitoring sites existed. 

MDMAP sites in

20

U.S. States and 

Territories

9

countries 

participate in 

the MDMAP

16
Regional Coordination

The NOAA Marine Debris Program recognizes the importance of collective impact when 

working towards effectively eliminating the adverse impacts of marine debris. Efforts to 

address marine debris are occurring at local, regional, national, and international levels. In 

order to coordinate these various efforts, the NOAA Marine Debris Program actively supports 

regional marine debris communication, strategy planning, and information sharing. 

Collaboration Portals

The NOAA Marine Debris Program 

created online Marine Debris 

Collaboration Portals to facilitate 

regional-level coordination among 

marine debris stakeholders. These 

portals provide a centralized hub 

for local organizations to share 

information related to marine debris, 

such as event announcements, 

resources, and data, to the public 

and with one another. Over the last 

year, Collaboration Portals have been 

created and are at various levels of 

implementation.

5 portals available for 

collaboration in the Great Lakes, 

Gulf of Mexico, Florida and the 

Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic, and 

Northeast

Taking Action on Marine 

Debris

The NOAA Marine Debris Program 

supports the creation of strategic 

marine debris action plans across the 

United States, which include a wide 

range of activities, including cleanups, 

research, education, and outreach. 

These plans are supported by diverse 

stakeholders in government, industry, 

non-governmental organizations, 

and academic institutions. In 2018, 

the NOAA Marine Debris Program 

supported the creation of action plans 

for California and Washington State to 

address the specific debris challenges 

faced in these states.

17
18

Emergency Response

Marine debris ends up on our coasts and in the ocean every day as a result of littering and 

poor waste management, but natural and man-made disasters have the potential to make 

the problem worse. In 2018, the NOAA Marine Debris Program worked with local, state, 

tribal, and federal partners around the country to improve preparedness for natural and 

man-made disasters through the development of marine debris response guides. These 

guides outline existing structures to facilitate coordinated, well-managed, and immediate 

responses to emergency marine debris events. 

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Response

The 2017 hurricane season left a swath of destruction and 

significant amounts of marine debris over large areas of the 

Caribbean, Southeast, and Texas. The NOAA Marine Debris 

Program provided technical assistance to local, state, and 

federal partners with the responses to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, 

and Maria. NOAA’s Marine Debris Regional Coordinators for 

the Florida & Caribbean and the Southeast regions functioned 

as the statewide Natural Resource Advisor Coordinator during 

four separate rotations. In addition, NOAA’s Florida Marine 

Debris Emergency Response Guide was utilized to determine 

agency jurisdiction for debris issues and determine necessary 

consultations with other agencies. NOAA received $18 million 

in disaster relief funding to aid in coastal recovery efforts by 

supporting marine debris assessment, removal, and disposal in 

the impacted areas of Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, 

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Completed

2

marine debris 

response plans 

for Virginia and 

Louisiana

18
Sixth International Marine 

Debris Conference

In March 2018, the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the United Nations Environment 

Programme (UN Environment) co-hosted the Sixth International Marine Debris Conference 

(6IMDC) in San Diego, California. The conference brought together more than 700 

participants from more than 50 countries to work towards a marine debris-free ocean. 

The conference aimed to celebrate and encourage further innovation, collaboration, and 

action around this far-reaching topic, highlighting innovative marine debris solutions, 

research, and technological advances since the last international marine debris 

conference held in 2011, and facilitating discussions around strategies to minimize the 

impacts and occurrence of marine debris. A major strength of the conference was its 

diversity of disciplines and expertise, including science, art, outreach, and education from 

individuals representing government, academia, private industry, community groups, and 

many more. Proceedings of the conference are now available on the 6IMDC website. 

Virtual Special Issue of 

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Staff from the NOAA Marine Debris 

Program served as Managing Guest 

Editors of a Virtual Special Issue 

of the Marine Pollution Bulletin 

devoted to papers stemming from 

the Sixth International Marine Debris 

Conference. Submissions were 

accepted on a rolling basis and the 

Virtual Special Issue will be finalized in 

early 2019.

Participants 

from more than

50

countries

More than

700

participants

19
20

Ocean Plastics Lab

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, alongside other partners, sponsored the Ocean Plastics 

Lab, an international outdoor, interactive, and free exhibit, composed of four shipping 

containers that highlight the global problem of ocean plastic pollution. This exhibit was 

created by the German Marine Research Consortium and is supported by Germany’s 

Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the European Commission. It began its 

tour of marine debris outreach last year in Turin, Italy, and included a stop in Washington, 

DC on the National Mall. The Lab features NOAA’s Marine Debris Tracker App, which serves 

as an easy-to-use and simple tool for marine debris data collection. While in the nation’s 

capital, thousands of people visited the exhibit, learning about marine debris and sciencebased solutions.

20,000

people visited 

the Lab in 

Washington, DC

20
Looking Ahead

The NOAA Marine Debris Program looks forward to launching newly-funded removal, 

prevention, research, and Fishing for Energy projects. Here is a look at the year ahead::

Removal

Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

will remove a large swath of man-made and woody debris 

from the Pearl River and the nearby Bogue Chitto National 

Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi. The removal is key to 

restoring hydrologic functions to the river and providing 

passage for fish.

Northwest Straits Marine Foundation will build on previous 

efforts to remove at least 1,000 derelict crab pots from the 

the Salish Sea in Washington State. The project will include 

a robust outreach campaign targeting recreational fishers 

in order to prevent the reaccumulation of crab pots.

Center for Coastal Studies, Inc. will remove 16 tons of 

derelict fishing gear from Cape Cod Bay and the nearby 

Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts. The project 

will engage commercial and recreational fishers, students, 

and other coastal interest groups in the removal activities.

Stockton University will work with crabbers to remove 

derelict crab pots using low-cost sonar in coastal New 

Jersey. This project builds on previous relationships within 

the commercial crabbing industry to engage the younger, 

next generation fishermen by incorporating best practices 

into their behaviors.

Town of Beaufort will remove over 46,000 pounds of debris, 

including abandoned moorings, derelict vessels, fishing 

gear, and other large debris from the waters adjacent to the 

Rachel Carson Reserve in North Carolina. The project builds 

on previous efforts in the reserve to map and prioritize 

debris for removal.

Ocean Aid 360, Inc. will mobilize a diverse group of 

stakeholders, such as boaters, anglers, and industry, to 

remove 15,000 pounds of derelict crab traps and other 

fishing gear from Florida’s Tampa Bay estuary. Following 

the removal activities, the team will collect data on the 

species removed from the crab traps.

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund will remove 112 metric tons of 

derelict fishing gear and other medium- and large-scale 

debris from the shorelines of Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui, and 

Lāna‘i islands through a derelict net patrol and communitybased cleanup events. They will dispose of nets through 

the Nets-to-Energy program, which incinerates the nets for 

energy.

Makah Indian Tribe of the Makah Indian Reservation will 

build off of efforts in Washington State to remove derelict 

fishing gear from Washington’s outer coast. This project 

aims to develop a sustainable tribal fisheries derelict pot 

reporting and recovery program within Makah Fisheries 

Management.

Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association will 

implement land-based marine debris capture and removal 

efforts through mechanical and hand-removal methods 

within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research 

Reserve in California. This project builds on previous efforts 

and will include continued engagement with the Mexican 

Government, industry leads, Mexican NGOs, and a broad 

section of the international community.

National Audubon Society, Inc. will remove marine debris, 

including derelict fishing gear and shoreline debris, from 

eight islands to benefit seabird nesting habitat in Maine. 

The project will also conduct outreach to coastal residents 

and engage volunteers in shoreline cleanups.

Weeks Bay Foundation, Inc. will remove five abandoned 

and derelict vessels from the Weeks Bay National Estuarine 

Research Reserve in Alabama. They will also perform 

outreach in the surrounding community on the damage 

these vessels cause, and how to properly report an 

abandoned vessel.

Partners for Clean Streams, Inc. will remove 30,000 

pounds of marine debris from the Maumee River and other 

tributaries in the greater Toledo, Ohio metropolitan area, 

helping to prevent debris from impacting Western Lake 

Erie. Partners for Clean Streams will work closely with 

collaborators to detect, assess, and coordinate removal of 

this marine debris with volunteers through the “Clean Your 

Streams” program.

21
Prevention

Surfrider Foundation, Inc. will utilize its existing network in 

Oregon to carry out a campaign to reduce the consumption 

of single-use plastic. This project addresses three actions 

identified by Oregon stakeholders in the Oregon Marine 

Debris Action Plan.

Eckerd College, Inc. will strive to reduce consumption of 

single-use plastics across the Eckerd College campus in St. 

Petersburg, Florida by educating students on marine debris, 

providing access to alternatives to common debris items, 

and working with the college administration to institute 

campus-wide initiatives.

Coastal States Stewardship Foundation will build on a 

pilot program to implement its Joyful Send-off communitybased social marketing campaign. The project will target 

weddings and other celebratory events and encourage 

behavior change related to balloon releases in the MidAtlantic.

University of North Carolina at Wilmington will connect 

students to the issue of marine debris through sea turtles in 

North Carolina. Students will perform simulated dissections 

of sea turtles in their classrooms, learn to identify marine 

debris items, and earn Turtle Trash Collectors badges.

The Ohio State University will educate tourists visiting the 

island of Put-in-Bay on the impacts of cigarettes, straws, 

and single-use beverage containers on Lake Erie in Ohio. 

Visitors will be reached on ferries, shuttles, taxis, and at 

port terminals, as well as at well-known tourist sites.

Alice Ferguson Foundation Inc. will build on successes in 

previous community-based social marketing campaigns to 

reduce littering behaviors among high school students in 

Prince George’s County, Maryland. As part of the project, 

students will lead community cleanups, pilot their own litter 

prevention strategies, and mentor younger students.

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies will engage schools, 

businesses, and residents in zero waste campaigns 

focused on preventing marine debris in Alaska. The project 

will also work with students to explore solutions to the 

disposal of plastics in rural communities where recycling is 

not available.

Mississippi State University will work with restaurants in 

the five Gulf Coast states to reduce the use of single-use 

plastic, plastic foam, and plastic lined food and beverage 

containers at restaurants. The project will begin by building 

a pilot program in Mississippi and Alabama, aiming for 

long-term behavior changes across the Gulf Coast.

University System of New Hampshire (Keene State) will 

strive to reduce litter from cigarettes at Keene State College 

in New Hampshire. The project will reach college smokers 

through humorous video messages aimed at changing their 

attitudes and behaviors.

Surfrider Foundation, Inc. will aim to reduce cigarette butt 

debris entering the San Francisco Bay estuary by installing 

cigarette butt receptacles, conducting community-based 

campaigns, distributing pocket ashtrays, conducting 

cleanups, and monitoring smoker behaviors through 

surveys.

Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources will install 

water bottle filling stations and carry out beach cleanups 

within 16 state parks on Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui, and O‘ahu.

Research

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Centers 

for Coastal Ocean Science, and Loyola University

initiated a pilot project to understand the distribution and 

abundance of microplastics in the Milwaukee Estuary 

by using invasive zebra and quagga mussels deployed 

in cages. The caged mussel method is similar to how 

the NOAA Great Lakes Mussel Watch Program monitors 

for chemical contaminants throughout the Great Lakes. 

The pilot will assess the feasibility of this method for 

monitoring microplastics as a tool to determine the 

success of efforts to reduce plastic pollution in the Great 

Lakes.

University of Washington Coastal Observation and 

Seabird Survey Team will use a variety of field scenarios 

and protocol iterations to evaluate the NOAA Marine 

Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project’s standing 

stock shoreline monitoring survey method. This project 

will identify the ways observer bias, such as the number 

of observers and their sampling behavior, can contribute 

to differing survey results. Results are intended to inform 

potential modifications to protocols from both programs, 

with the ultimate goal of facilitating a more robust and 

coordinated network of monitoring efforts nationwide.

22
Fishing for Energy

Fishing for Energy, a partnership between the NOAA Marine 

Debris Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 

Covanta Energy, and Schnitzer Steel Industries, will launch 

seven newly-funded projects to prevent and reduce the 

impacts of derelict fishing gear in the marine environment.

The Ocean Foundation will conduct a comprehensive 

removal effort of abandoned fishing traps in Puerto Rico 

and document the scale of unauthorized trap fishing in the 

territory in order to improve compliance with trap fishing 

regulations. 

Island Trails Network will reduce entanglement and 

mortality of marine mammals and increase awareness 

impacts by engaging the general public and commercial 

fishing community in efforts to remove derelict fishing 

gear from prioritized locations in the Kodiak archipelago 

including Kodiak, Afognak, Shuyak, and minor outlying 

islands.

College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine 

Science will reduce ecological and economic impacts 

associated with lost gear in coastal Washington and Alaska 

by incorporating an innovative bio-hinge mechanism into 

Dungeness crab traps.

University of Hawai‘i - Mānoa will remove 50 metric 

tons of derelict fishing gear from the remote islands and 

atolls within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National 

Monument. 

Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will remove 

fixed gear from the Massachusetts Bay Restricted Area 

during closed season to reduce the entanglement risk to 

North Atlantic right whales. 

Natural Resources Consultants will remove up to 

30 derelict gillnets from areas of historically high 

concentration in marine waters in the Puget Sound, 

protecting critical habitats for listed species.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will 

address the impacts of spiny lobster and stone crab traps 

lost during Hurricane Irma in coastal and inland areas of 

the Florida Keys, protecting sensitive habitats.

23
24

Photo Credits

1. NOAA (Cover)

2. NOAA (Page 2)

3. NOAA (Page 3)

4. Surfrider Foundation San Diego (Page 4, Top Left)

5. Megan van Hamersveld (Page 4, Top Right)

6. Heal the Bay (Page 4, Middle)

7. NOAA (Page 4, Bottom Right)

8. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs (Page 5)

9. City of Cleveland, Office of Sustainability (Page 6, Top Left)

10. Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation (Page 6, Bottom Right)

11. Sea Education Association (Page 7, Top Right)

12. University of the Virgin Islands (Page 7, Bottom Left)

13. Sea Turtle, Inc. (Page 8, Top Left)

14. Megan van Hamersveld (Page 8, Bottom Right)

15. Sitka Sound Science Center (Page 9)

16. Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund (Page 10, Top Left)

17. Makah Indian Tribe (Page 10, Bottom Right)

18. NOAA (Page 11, Top Right)

19. Shay Hlavaty, Save Our Shores (Page 11, Bottom Left)

20. Surfrider Foundation San Diego (Page 12, Top Left)

21. Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (Page 12, Bottom Right)

22. Coastal Cleanup Corporation (Page 13, Top Right)

23. North Carolina Coastal Reserve (Page 13, Bottom Left)

24. North Carolina Coastal Federation (Page 14, Top Left)

25. Cornell University Cooperative Extension (Page 14, Bottom Right)

26. Texas A&M University Corpus Christi (Page 15)

27. NOAA (Page 16, Top Left)

28. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (Page 16, Bottom Right)

29. Heidi Walker (Page 17)

30. NOAA (Page 18)

31. NOAA (Page 19)

32. Copyright BMBF/Karen Sayre (Page 20)

24
25

NAT OI NAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRAT OI N

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NOAA Marine Debris Program

Office of Response and Restoration

National Ocean Service

October 2018

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr.

United States Secretary of Commerce

RDML Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and 

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Nicole R. LeBoeuf

Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services

and Coastal Zone Management

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/