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Lost crab traps from the blue crab fishery are retrieved from the York River in Virginia (Photo Credit: John Wallace, Virginia Institute of Marine Science).
With 2022 and 2023 funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Center for Coastal Resources Management at William and Mary’s Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is seeking applications for up to $1,475,000 in grants to remove derelict fishing traps throughout coastal waterways of the United States while collecting data to prevent future gear loss. Projects may range from $50,000 to $150,000. Projects throughout the coastal United States, including United States territories and Freely Associated States, are eligible for consideration.
Proposals are due on March 31, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
For more information on the application process, visit the William and Mary’s Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science website.
Learn more about the Marine Debris Foundation (Photo Credit: Marine Debris Foundation).
In January 2026, the Marine Debris Foundation announced an award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program to support a five-year partnership to accelerate solutions and remove, reduce, and prevent marine debris in the United States. This funding will support innovative programs and match private donations, furthering transformative possibilities for solving the global marine debris problem.
Learn more about this partnership.
A derelict vessel near Galveston, Texas is hoisted onto a platform for removal (Photo Credit: Gulf of America Alliance).
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program through a 2023 award, the Gulf of America Alliance is working in coordination with state and local partners on a large-scale, multi-state initiative to remove derelict vessels and restore coastal health and safety. Vessels are being removed across the Gulf Coast, including more than 582,000 pounds of debris already removed in Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Learn more about this project.
 Check out all of the winners of the 2025 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest (Photo Credit: Gabriel Jense via NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries).
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the 2025 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest winners! From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. Check out the winning photographs that capture the beauty of the National Marine Sanctuary System!
See the winning photographs. |
