NOAA Marine Debris Program – Alaska Sea Grant

Cordova fishermen clean up the Copper River Delta

By Aubrey Taradash | December 16, 2025

A man stands astride a white ATV and a woman stands in a trailer behind it. The ATV has a large yellow plastic trash bag on it, while the trailer contains yellow trash bags and other debris.

The Copper River Delta hosts some of the most valuable fisheries in Alaska. However, the region lies at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska, where currents bring a seemingly…

Plastic Free July: Fishermen take action for cleaner coasts

By Alice van Veenendaal | July 16, 2025

Group of volunteers collecting marine debris in large bags on a sandy beach in Alaska. Three boats are in the water behind them.

Plastic Free July is a global movement to reduce single-use plastics, much of which end up in streams, rivers, and oceans. In Alaska, we’re partnering with leaders in coastal communities…