What's New?
Marine debris news from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program.
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Celebrating 20 Years of the NOAA Marine Debris Program
This year, the NOAA Marine Debris Program is celebrating its 20th anniversary of cleaning our coasts. As we mark this milestone, we are reflecting on two decades of collaboration, progress, and shared commitment to addressing marine debris across the United States and U.S. Territories. This anniversary also offers an opportunity to recognize our partners, including the entire marine debris community, educators, students, families, and volunteers, whose contributions have helped shape the program’s impact over the past 20 years.
We invite you to follow along by subscribing to our blog as we highlight stories from the program over the years, showcase current ongoing efforts, and look ahead to a future where our global ocean and its coasts are free from the impacts of marine debris.
To learn more, please visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.
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Industry Perspectives: Removal of Abandoned Fishing Gear
With support from a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and Batten School is leading the nationwide effort to remove derelict fishing traps across the country. Recently, the VIMS team and partner Green Fin Studios had the pleasure of chatting with some of the program’s commercial fishers and divers who conducted derelict trap removals. Industry personnel involved with projects in Florida, Maine, Virginia, and Washington shared their perspectives and insider knowledge.
Check out this video to learn about the impacts of derelict fishing traps on the commercial fishing industry, interviewees’ favorite aspects of trap removal work, and how these efforts make a difference across fisheries and regions in coastal waters throughout the country. Thank you to our partners for coordinating and collaborating directly with the fishing industry on solutions.
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Get Involved
Opportunities to get involved and address marine debris in your community and across the region.
Many Hands, More Insight: Advancing Research Through Citizen Science
Citizen science, also referred to as participatory science or community science, is a collaboration between trained researchers and members of the community who are curious, concerned, and looking to make a difference. Community members follow specific steps to collect or process data to support ongoing monitoring and deepen the understanding of issues of local importance.
Citizen science can be done anywhere—from the great outdoors to the comfort of your couch. The options are endless, and every action helps advance research together.
Check out these opportunities in your community to gather crucial data. Scistarter has several search features to help you identify citizen science opportunities that interest you. You can also check out Nature Groupie, which compiles outdoor volunteer opportunities in New England, some of which contribute to scientific research and other university-based programs. Find resources to support your citizen science project on the Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences website.
Did you know that NOAA has a marine debris citizen science program? Keep reading to learn about the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Protocol. Funded partners discussed below are also working to crowdsource data to increase understanding of issues related to derelict fishing traps and abandoned, derelict vessels.
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From Beachcombing to Breakthroughs: Your Local Data Fights Marine Debris
Launched in 2012, the NOAA Marine Debris Program's Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) is a standardized protocol designed for members of the public and scientists alike to collect data about marine debris on shorelines. Using the instructions, data sheets, and helpful resources provided, you can collect data that helps identify trends in marine debris over time, inspire prevention efforts, and inform education and outreach. The data is entered in the online MDMAP database where it is available for anyone to explore!
Check out this video series to learn more about how you can get outside and collect valuable data about marine debris at your favorite beach or shoreline. Subscribe to The Wrack Line newsletter to read about debris that other volunteers are finding all over the country during their sampling sessions. Teachers, read about how you can get your students involved in the MDMAP Educator's Guide.
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ADV Watch: Report an Abandoned and Derelict Vessel
With support from a 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the BoatUS Foundation is working to increase understanding of the abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) issue while also removing and preventing ADVs.
BoatUS Foundation utilized MyCoast to build a public reporting platform to collect information and improve understanding of the scope of the ADV problem, making this information available to the public as well as states and partners working to remove and prevent ADVs.
So far, over 1,000 vessel reports have been submitted from boaters and other coastal stewards across the country. Report a vessel to help BoatUS Foundation gather information in your community! Anyone can report a vessel to the database, and you don't need to make an account to submit a report.
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Tackling Fishing Trap Debris
As part of the 2023 award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Batten School also developed a national online dashboard to standardize data collection and deepen understanding of issues related to derelict traps. Partners submit their data using an online form, and the information is displayed on this data dashboard.
The TRAP Program team is interested in learning more about traps in your community. If you are permitted to handle derelict traps and want to share information about the traps you find, contact info@trapprogram.org. Note: Please be aware of the laws and regulations related to handling derelict fishing gear debris in your state.
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International Coastal Cleanup
International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a worldwide, annual cleanup event organized by Ocean Conservancy. Passionate ocean advocates from around the world team up to clean their local beaches. Host organizations coordinate cleanups open to the public or provide supplies for you to use at your own cleanup. Cleanups can occur from late summer to early winter with many cleanups concentrated around ICC Day which falls on Saturday, September 19 this year.
Check out these cleanup opportunities across New England!
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Professional Development + Learning
Conferences and webinars for researchers, educators, and marine debris partners in the Northeast region.
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Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) Annual Science Meeting: Call for Abstracts
The next RARGOM annual science meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at the University of New Hampshire’s Durham, New Hampshire campus. RARGOM is accepting abstracts for posters and talks aligning with the theme of Navigating Change in the Gulf of Maine: Science People and the Next Generation.
Visit the RARGOM website to learn more and submit your abstract.
Deadline: September 4, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
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BoatUS Foundation’s Turning the Tide Summit: Registration is Open
Registration is now open for the Turning the Tide Summit hosted by the BoatUS Foundation on December 6-9, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The conference will gather environmental agency staff, policymakers, industry leaders, boating enthusiasts, and others to discuss challenges and lessons learned while managing abandoned and derelict vessels and sustainable disposal solutions for boating related waste, including fiberglass and shrink-wrap. This will be a hybrid event with an option for virtual participation.
Register online on the BoatUS Foundation website.
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National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series: Marine Debris, Mangroves, and More!
The National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) Webinar Series invites educators and the general public to learn about ocean science from scientists working in national marine sanctuaries across the country. Learn about all kinds of marine life and invasive species as well as monitoring projects and other ongoing research studies that help us better understand how marine environments work and change over time. An upcoming webinar discusses the Get In Your Sanctuary Photo Contest.
In a past webinar, Jake Emmert, Director of Marine Operations at Moody Gardens NMS provided a presentation about a project supported by the NOAA MDP where highly specialized divers descended to the twilight zone to remove 1,700 pounds of marine debris from Flower Garden Banks NMS! Visit Archived Webinars to find recordings of this and other webinars.
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