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Artwork by Aaliyah R. M. (Grade 8, Puerto Rico), winner of the 2025 NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 students in grades one through eight, representing seven states and three U.S. territories. All are winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.
Check out the 2026 Marine Debris Calendar on our website!
The Verna A II that was removed from Salmon Creek State Beach on California’s Sonoma Coast in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Photo Credit: NOAA).
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation removed the Verna A II from Salmon Creek State Beach on California’s Sonoma Coast in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Battered by high surf and dramatic tides, the 54-foot derelict vessel had broken into large, hazardous pieces, plaguing the intertidal zone. Parker Diving Service, the vessel retrieval and cleanup company, had a brief window of opportunity when the tides were low and winds were favorable to complete the operation. This removal was carried out in partnership with California State Parks and the Greater Farrallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
Learn more about this removal.
Some stores offer shoppers the option of using their own containers. This reduces the amount of single-use plastic packaging that many food and grocery products usually come in (Photo Credit: NOAA).
Is it your goal to reduce waste in 2026? Here are a few ideas to get you started! Practicing waste reduction at home builds a strong foundation for reducing waste in our everyday lives. While spending more time at home this winter, we can examine our daily habits and think about the ways we can reduce our personal waste. Marine debris is a human-made problem, which ultimately means that we are the solution.
Learn more about how to reduce your waste. |
