New community-led marine debris removal projects

Alaska Sea Grant announced six new projects to address marine debris in Alaska. Selected through a competitive funding opportunity for community-led marine debris removal projects, these projects are supported by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program for cleanup efforts across the state.

With this new round of awards, the project teams join a growing network of organizations and communities working to remove marine debris from Alaska’s coasts and waters. In total, 15 groups are now part of the Alaska Center for Marine Debris, a collaborative effort led by Alaska Sea Grant and partners to support marine debris removal efforts and serve the needs of the marine debris community across the state, including debris collection, monitoring, analysis, transport, reuse, recycling and disposal.

“Marine debris is one of the most visible challenges facing Alaska’s coasts,” said Molly Cain, Alaska Sea Grant’s associate director coordinating the marine debris funding opportunity. “By investing in locally led projects, we’re cleaning up shorelines and empowering communities to safeguard the places and resources they know inside and out and care deeply about.”

The projects, totaling more than $750,000, will remove marine debris while leading community-focused education and outreach, delivering tangible benefits to Alaska’s coastal habitats, communities and economies. Learn more about the six new projects below.

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Project summaries

Marine Debris Cleanup and Prevention in Nightmute, Alaska: Ensuring a Healthy Sea for a Healthy Community

Nightmute (West)

This project, led by Zender Environmental Health and Research Group in partnership with the Nightmute Traditional Council, will address marine debris by cleaning up trash around the community landfill and surrounding streams, improving waste management infrastructure, and engaging residents through education and outreach. Activities include hiring community members for debris removal, installing trash and recycling receptacles, and a “fishing for trash” program that compensates fishers for removing debris during subsistence harvests.

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Lines of Defense: Fishermen Partnering to Safeguard Against Current and Future Marine Debris

Kodiak Island (Southwest)

This project, led by Mikado Fisheries, aims to remove hard-to-reach marine debris from remote locations along Kodiak’s coast, with a particular focus on derelict fishing gear and batteries. The project will leverage the fishing season schedule and industry partnerships to streamline the removal process and ensure that collected debris has a destination outside of the landfill. Project outcomes include removing, reusing and recycling debris through community-driven cleanups and educational initiatives, while also gathering data and documenting lessons to inform future efforts. 

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Marine Debris Education, Prevention, and Removal in the Upper Lynn Canal

Haines (Southeast)

The Takshanuk Watershed Council will address marine debris in the Upper Lynn Canal through education, prevention, and removal. Key objectives include mapping and removing derelict crab and shrimp pots using sidescan sonar, a remotely operated vehicle, and grappling hooks. The project also aims to access remote beaches for cleanup and to keep plastics out of the local landfill by sorting them for upcycling into plastic lumber.

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Marine Debris Removal and Habitat Protection in Kake’s Traditional Harvesting Areas

Kake (Southeast)

The City of Kake, in partnership with the Kake Tribal Corporation, Organized Village of Kake, and local harvesters, will work to restore marine harvesting areas by removing marine debris from traditional subsistence zones. The goal is to protect habitats that provide essential access to resources like seaweed, cockles and clams, which are important for the community’s food security and cultural identity. The project aims to elevate Indigenous stewardship and build local capacity for future efforts.

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Stewardship, Subsistence, and Science through Marine Debris Removal

Prince William Sound (Southcentral)

This project is a collaborative marine debris education and cleanup initiative grounded in the culture and ecology of Prince William Sound. Led by the Prince William Sound Science Center, in partnership with the Native Village of Eyak, Drifters Fish and the Cordova School District, the project will address critical marine debris challenges through a combination of classroom learning, harbor cleanups, youth engagement and long-term stewardship. This project is targeting Egg Island and the Cordova Small Boat Harbor for cleanup.

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Cordova’s Commercial Fishermen-Led Marine Debris Cleanup

Prince William Sound (Southcentral)

This project, led by Drifters Fish, aims to clean up marine debris from remote shorelines in the southcentral Gulf of Alaska, particularly the exposed outer beach of Boswell Bay. The effort will involve commercial fishermen and local volunteers, with a focus on removing debris such as plastic foam, plastic bottles and derelict fishing gear. The project also involves a group of local artists who will document the cleanup through illustrative artwork and youth education initiatives in partnership with Prince William Sound Science Center.