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Two Decades Towards A Marine Debris-Free Future

Congress established the NOAA Marine Debris Program in 2006 as the Federal Government’s lead to reduce and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris. Director Jason Philibotte reflects on 20 years of the program’s progress envisioning the global ocean and its coasts free from the impact of marine debris.

A person wearing a jacket and an orange beanie stands on a dock in the sun holding two retrieved crab trap debris items.
Last updated Tuesday, September 15, 2026 10:15am PDT