marine debris

Transcript NARRATOR: What is marine debris? Have you ever been to the beach and noticed litter, like plastic bottles or foam take-out containers on the sand? Or maybe…

Transcript NARRATOR: Where does marine debris come from? Marine debris comes from many different sources and enters the ocean in many ways. Intentional littering and dumping are a big…

Transcript NARRATOR: Why is plastic marine debris so common? We know there's a lot of trash in the ocean. Unfortunately, a lot of it is plastic. We find plastic…

Transcript NARRATOR: What can we do about marine debris? A lot of the trash that's in our ocean is plastic, and that marine debris is hurting our environment, economy, and health.  The…

In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf discusses National Ocean Month, an opportunity to celebrate our amazing ocean. One of the ways NOS celebrates is with a month-long social…

Hello, I’m Nicole LeBoeuf, Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s National Ocean Service. To celebrate 50 years of ocean and coastal conservation, I’m excited to share with you that the U.S. Postal Service and NOAA’s Office of National…

Once every ten years, NOAA and the U.S. Census Bureau team up to capture snapshots of how our nation's population is changing over time. Learn about this special partnership — and our new "center of…

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the availability of up to $28 million across two funding opportunities to address marine debris throughout the coastal U.S., Great Lakes, territories and Freely Associated States.…

Rip currents account for more than 80 percent of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. They are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore that quickly pull swimmers out to sea. Rip currents…

By Alyssa Nally September 2017 What will the overall health of the ocean look like in the future? In response to the overwhelming presence of plastic pollutants in marine ecosystems,…

September 2017 Over two tons of debris (approximately the weight of a car) has been successfully removed from the shores of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park over the…

The Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, co-hosted by NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and the United Nations Environment Programme, will examine how marine debris can harm natural resources, human health, and national…

Five years ago, Japan was hit with one of the worst natural disasters in its history. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake, and tsunami that followed, claimed nearly 16,000 lives, injured 6,000 more, and damaged or destroyed countless…

By Alyssa Nally July 2018 What can we do on land to better protect marine environments and the organisms that inhabit them? This past spring, students from across the nation sought to…

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF offsite link) and NOAA’s Marine Debris Program today announced $8.2 million in six new grants for the assessment, removal and proper disposal of marine debris that was caused by hurricanes…

The grants, selected after a rigorous and competitive review process, are spread across 18 U.S. states and territories. Ten marine debris removal projects will receive a total of $1.3 million, while 13 prevention projects will receive a…

Many factors determine how long it will take for debris to degrade, such as material type, size, thickness, and environmental conditions. …

With marine debris, pictures speak louder than words. Marine debris injures and kills marine life, interferes with navigation safety, and…

A new organization is joining the fight to keep our ocean and Great Lakes free of marine debris. NOAA selected the inaugural Board of Directors for the new Marine Debris Foundation, a group that will augment federal efforts to address…

By Larisa Bennett November 2018 In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma rammed through Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. High winds swirled destructive currents around reefs and…

By Halle Marchese March 2019 Most college students leave the beach with a few good pictures and a tan. However, since 2012, students with the University of Florida's Alpha Zeta…

Today, NOAA announced $7.3 million in fiscal year 2021 grants supporting 25 projects to address the harmful effects of marine debris on wildlife, navigation safety, ecosystem health, and the economy. With the addition of non-federal…

Atlantic croaker trapped within a derelict or "ghost" crab pot pulled from the York River in Virginia. Derelict fishing gear,…

Can you spot the sunken ship? In June 2002, the retired USS Spiegel Grove  was sunk in waters off Key Largo. At 510 feet (155.45 meters) long, the ship was, at…

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms, tsunamis, and landslides have the potential to generate a tremendous amount of marine debris. The high winds, heavy rains, storm surge, and flooding associated…

Climate change is the greatest global threat to coral reef ecosystems. Scientific evidence now clearly indicates that the Earth's atmosphere and ocean are warming, and that these changes are primarily due to…

Impacts from land-based sources of pollution—including coastal development, deforestation, agricultural runoff, and oil and chemical spills—can impede coral growth and reproduction, disrupt overall ecological…

VIDEO: What are microplastics? Here's what you need to know in less than a minute. Transcript Plastic is…

<!-- What is a catcher beach? …

A classic example of a catcher beach along the shores of Hawaii. This map shows debris concentrations from an aerial survey done in Alaska in 2012. The map points to two known catcher…

Trash talk Reducing marine debris by even 25 percent at beaches in and near Orange County, California, could save residents approximately $32 million during the summer by not…

During the month of June, join us as we share videos, images, and ocean facts to celebrate the beauty and importance of our ocean and coasts. Continue reading →

What will you find? This pile of trash was collected during the 2014 International Coastal Cleanup. …

Join us as we celebrate and learn about our world ocean during National Ocean Month. Continue reading →

Ask Us Anything! The majority of marine debris found around the world is made of plastic and can range from microbeads smaller than…

We're celebrating World Ocean Day during the month of June by highlighting a select few of our 300 facts about our ocean and coasts. You can follow along on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Look for #30daysofocean. Continue reading…

Rip currents account for more than 80 percent of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. They are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore that quickly pull swimmers out to sea. Rip currents…

Here are some of the products and services provided by NOAA's National Ocean Service. The beach remains one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the U.S. Both coastal residents and…

See how the National Ocean Service provides data, tools, and services that support coastal economies and their contribution to the national economy with our new ocean economy portal. Continue →

The National Ocean Service (NOS) brings a wealth of coastal science, management, and operational expertise to aid communities impacted by severe weather events. We are on the front lines to help America understand, predict, and…

In 2018, NOAA scientists and partners embarked on two lengthy voyages, crossing through some of the most remote regions of the Pacific Ocean. During the first mission aboard NOAA Ship Hi‘ialakai, researchers…