Marine Debris Program
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| Marine Debris Program | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Marine Debris Program |
| Formation | 2006 |
| Type | Federal program |
| Headquarters | Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Parent organization | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Marine Debris Program is a federal initiative administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charged with addressing marine litter and debris in the United States and internationally. The program coordinates research, monitoring, prevention, and response activities and collaborates with a range of partners including federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and international bodies. It supports efforts to reduce marine plastic pollution, derelict fishing gear, and other oceanic waste through science, policy, and community engagement.
Overview
The program operates within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and interfaces with agencies such as the National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address debris in coastal, estuarine, and marine environments. Partnerships extend to international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Maritime Organization, Global Environment Facility, and regional bodies like the North Pacific Marine Science Organization and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. The program supports collaborations with universities including Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, University of Miami, University of Washington, and University of Hawaii to integrate research from networks such as the Long Term Ecological Research Network and groups like Ocean Conservancy, The Ocean Cleanup, and World Wildlife Fund.
History and Development
The program was established in 2006 following growing scientific and public concern highlighted by events and organizations such as the International Coastal Cleanup, the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, and academic studies from institutions like University of California, Santa Barbara and Duke University. Early milestones involved coordination with federal initiatives including the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act and collaboration with regional commissions such as the Chesapeake Bay Program, Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and Pacific Islands Forum. Influences included high-profile research on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and reports by bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Economic Forum that emphasized plastic pollution in oceans and impacts on species listed by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Objectives and Programs
Core objectives align with international targets set by instruments such as the London Convention, the Basel Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity to minimize marine pollution. Programmatic efforts include advancing science on debris pathways, reducing sources through community initiatives modeled after work by Surfrider Foundation and Ocean Conservancy, and recovering debris via response frameworks similar to NOAA Coastal Services Center operations. The initiative supports grant programs and cooperative agreements with organizations like National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Smithsonian Institution, and regional partners such as Alaska Marine Conservation Council and Hawaii Wildlife Fund.
Research and Monitoring
Research activities engage collaborations with laboratories and observatories including NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Sea Education Association, and the Alfred Wegener Institute through projects employing methods developed by Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Monitoring frameworks reference programs like the National Estuarine Research Reserve system, National Marine Sanctuaries Program, and citizen science platforms such as Marine Debris Tracker and the eBird-style mobilizations led by Citizen Science Association partners. Research topics include impacts on taxa studied by National Audubon Society, entanglement of species cataloged by Marine Mammal Commission and NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources, and microplastic analyses using protocols from U.S. Geological Survey and academic consortia including Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Prevention, Cleanup, and Response Efforts
On-the-ground actions draw on models from campaigns organized by International Coastal Cleanup, Keep America Beautiful, Coastcare, and the Marine Conservation Society. Emergency response and removal of derelict fishing gear involves coordination with the U.S. Navy, NOAA Marine Debris Program Salvage Operations, and salvage contractors with guidance similar to National Contingency Plan procedures. Cleanup campaigns have engaged municipal partners such as City of San Francisco, state agencies like California Coastal Commission and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and regional initiatives including the Great Lakes Commission to address freshwater and coastal debris.
Partnerships and Outreach
The program cultivates multi-sector partnerships with international NGOs such as Greenpeace, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, and corporate partners engaged in extended producer responsibility dialogues like Ellen MacArthur Foundation and industry groups such as World Plastics Council. Outreach and education draw on museum and aquarium collaborations with Smithsonian Institution, Monterey Bay Aquarium, New England Aquarium, and school programs coordinated with National Science Teachers Association. Multilateral engagement includes working groups with G7, United Nations Ocean Conference, Our Ocean Conference, and regional sea conventions like the Barcelona Convention and Nairobi Convention.
Policy, Legislation, and Funding
Policy connections include coordination with statutes and instruments such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and domestic appropriations processes in the United States Congress. Funding mechanisms involve federal appropriations, grants administered through entities like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, philanthropic support from organizations such as Bloomberg Philanthropies and Packard Foundation, and international financing via Global Environment Facility projects and bilateral aid from agencies like United States Agency for International Development and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The program contributes science to inform regulatory debates in forums including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reviews, and interagency task forces chaired by the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Category:United States environmental programs