Community-led Marine Debris Removal Projects

2025 selected projects

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  fishermen for removing debris during subsistence harvests.

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

Kodiak Island (Southwest)

Led by Mikado Fisheries, this project aims to remove hard-to-reach marine debris from remote locations along Kodiak’s coast, with a focus on derelict fishing gear and batteries. The project will leverage the fishing season schedule and industry partnerships to streamline the removal and ensure that collected debris has a destination outside of the landfill. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Cordova's Commercial Fishermen-Led Marine Debris Cleanup

Prince William Sound (Southcentral)

Led by Drifters Fish, this project 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.

 

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2024 selected projects

Norton Sound Clean Waters Program

Brevig Mission and Wales (Northwest)

Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation is working with the communities of Brevig Mission and Wales to remove marine debris from over 25 miles of shoreline. This project addresses historical areas with large amounts of marine debris and hires residents as crew members, conducting pre-season assessments to target in-season removal. Removing debris helps safeguard subsistence fish and game stocks and supports small-communities economies with few employment opportunities.

Chevak Typhoon Merbok Marine Debris Removal Project

Chevak (West)

The City of Chevak is removing marine debris in Chevak that was washed ashore by Typhoon Merbok in September 2022. The storm caused massive damage to subsistence gear and fish camps, exacerbated riverbank erosion, and scattered boats, motors, fishing gear, and driftwood across the tundra. This project will ensure the safety of Chevak residents and protect the local environment that they rely on by hiring local workers to collect and remove this marine debris.

Marine Debris Clean Up and Prevention in Kotlik, AK: Ensuring a Healthy Sea for a Healthy Community

Kotlik (West)

Zender Environmental Health and Research Group is working collaboratively with the community of Kotlik and the Kotlik Tribal Environmental Health Coordinator in support of a community-led marine debris removal effort. The project is cleaning up marine debris in three high-traffic sites in the community, improving waste management infrastructure, and raising community awareness about the need for proper waste management. Partners are also working with local high school students to create a short documentary that will bring regional and national awareness about waste management and marine debris challenges and efforts in rural Alaska.

Marine Debris Remediation Project of Goodnews Bay

Goodnews Bay (Southwest)

Native Village of Goodnews Bay is removing marine debris from the beaches and shorelines of Goodnews Bay with a focus on education and spreading awareness about marine debris and its impacts on the local environment that residents rely upon for subsistence. Twice a month during summer months, groups remove debris from both the eastern and western sides of the bay. Community members organize cleanups and conduct community education efforts to prevent future debris.

Copper River Barrier Islands Cleanup Project

Cordova (Southcentral)

Drifters Fish removed marine debris from the Copper River Delta Barrier Islands through a community effort led by members of Cordova’s coastal fishing fleet. This region is a complex ecosystem that supports a diverse food chain including sockeye, Chinook, coho, and eulachon that provide economic and cultural significance to the commercial and subsistence users of Cordova and upper Copper River Delta communities. Drifters Fish also conducted an aerial survey of the island chain to identify sites for future cleanup and worked with local and regional partners to raise awareness about marine debris in the region.

Odiak Slough Marine Debris Removal

Cordova (Southcentral)

Ridgeline Aviation conducted a cleanup of derelict, abandoned docks located on sensitive tidal mudflats that host millions of migrating shorebirds every year. The foam floats on the docks were actively degrading into the environment, prompting Ridgeline Aviation to contract a marine salvage company to assist in the removal of the decomposing docks. All docks were successfully removed, along with other debris on the tidal flats.

Southeast Alaska Commercial Fisherman Marine Debris Clean Up and Fleet Outreach

Alexander Archipelago (Southeast)

Zachary and Jacquie Foss, owners of the F/V Axel, are removing marine debris from southern Baranof Island, southwest Kuiu Island, Coronation Island, the west coast of Chichagof Island, and other nearby islands. This project helps build awareness among commercial fishers in southeast Alaska and engages them in reporting marine debris to an online tool to inform future cleanup efforts.