The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says it has up to $54 million in new funding to pay for marine debris cleanup. Two grant offerings are aimed at the usual large-scale collection of debris – and “installation, monitoring and maintenance of proven marine debris interception technologies,” according to the agency.
The funding is part of NOAA’s Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative. “Marine debris threatens the health, productivity and overall economic viability of coastal communities throughout the nation,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in announcing the funds. “These new funding opportunities, made possible thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, will strengthen our coastal infrastructure, keep debris from entering our waterways, and help protect our public health and marine ecosystems.”
Money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is can pay for “the coordinated removal of marine debris at an unprecedented scale, including the removal of legacy debris that has impacted the marine environment for decades,” said Nancy Wallace, director of NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. “We are helping coastal communities build the future they want to see by investing in high-impact projects that increase resilience, restore habitat and prevent debris reaccumulation in the environment.”
The two funding offerings are:
- Marine Debris Removal, which prioritizes large-scale removal projects that focus on marine debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand, including abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear and other large debris. Letters of Intent are required and are due on Sept. 27, 2024.
- Marine Debris Interception Technologies, which prioritizes the installation, monitoring and maintenance of proven interception technologies that capture marine debris at or close to known debris sources or pathways. Letters of Intent are required and are due on Oct. 9, 2024.
Project proposals will be reviewed separately due to different application requirements. More information on the marine debris grant opportunities are available online at Removal opportunity, and at the Interception Technologies opportunity page on Grants.gov, and the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s website.
