Efforts are underway to reduce marine debris impacts on Gulf coast wildlife and habitats. During the first year of on-the-ground implementation, Trustees collectively removed 70,623 pounds of land-based debris and 32,541 pounds of ocean-based debris during cleanup events.
The cleanup work is a result of the Reducing Marine Debris Impacts on Birds and Sea Turtles project selected by the Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group in Final Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #1. Funded through the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment settlement, the project aims to reduce threats posed by marine debris to birds and sea turtles injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill across the Gulf coast.
The project is being implemented collaboratively by the five Gulf state Trustees (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas) and three of the four federal Trustees (EPA, NOAA, and DOI). Efforts focus on removing marine debris that can harm sea turtles and birds through entanglement, entrapment, or ingestion, including derelict fishing gear such as monofilament fishing line, nets, traps/pots, and other lost or discarded recreational and commercial fishing equipment.
To accomplish this, Trustees are:
- Identifying and prioritizing marine debris hotspots that impact birds and sea turtles
- Conducting land and water-based marine debris removal events
- Conducting outreach and education on the dangers of marine debris to birds and sea turtles
To date, Trustees have identified 31 marine debris hotspots where sea turtles and birds are likely to encounter debris. In 2025, Trustees began implementing debris removal activities in these areas. In addition to removing over 100,000 pounds of debris, Trustees installed 38 monofilament recycling bins in high-use fishing areas to help prevent discarded fishing line from entering the environment. The Trustees also conducted numerous outreach and education events at local schools, festivals, boat shows, and volunteer cleanups.
The 2025 field season marked a strong start for the project, and Trustees look forward to continuing implementation efforts over the coming years to reduce marine debris impacts on Gulf coast wildlife and habitats.
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