Region Funding Opportunities
Funding opportunities from the marine debris community in the Northeast and across the nation
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Algalita Announces Revamped Educator Mini-Grant Program for Plastic Pollution Solutions
Algalita is seeking applications for projects that support meaningful learning experiences and action-oriented projects that empower students to learn more about and respond to the plastic pollution. This opportunity is geared toward classroom- and other school-based activities.
Learn more on the Wayfinder Society website.
Deadline: March 1, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
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The Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Education Grant Competition
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Education Grant Program supports projects that promote environmental stewardship, focusing on students, teachers, and community members. Projects can create, demonstrate, or distribute environmental education practices, methods, and techniques that increase public awareness of local issues and provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions regarding impacts toward the environment.
See this notice of funding opportunity for more information.
Deadline: March 23, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
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Special Funding Opportunity: Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program
With FY 22-23 funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the William and Mary’s Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is seeking applications for up to $1,475,000 in grants to remove derelict fishing traps throughout coastal waterways of the United States while collecting data to prevent future gear loss. Projects may range from $50,000 to $150,000. Projects throughout the coastal United States, including United States territories and Freely Associated States, are eligible for consideration.
For more information on the application process, visit the William and Mary’s Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science website.
Deadline: March 31, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET
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What's New?
Marine Debris News from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
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BoatUS Foundation Makes Waves in the Abandoned and Derelict Vessel (ADV) Community
Under an award from the NOAA Marine Debris Program made in 2023, the BoatUS Foundation is working to increase understanding of the abandoned and derelict vessel issue while also removing and preventing ADVs.
Last year, the BoatUS Foundation announced eleven awards to remove abandoned and derelict vessels across the nation. Soon after, the virtual Turning the Tide summit gathered boaters, agency staff, policymakers, and boaters to discuss the challenges managing ADVs and boating-related waste.
This year, BoatUS Foundation continues to make waves with an in-person conference and a new public reporting tool.
Crunching the Numbers: An Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Reporting Platform
BoatUS Foundation utilized MyCoast to build a public reporting platform to collect information and improve understanding of the scope of the ADV problem, making this information available to the public as well as states and partners working to remove and prevent ADVs.
So far, 922 vessel reports have been submitted from boaters and other coastal stewards across the country. Report a vessel to help BoatUS Foundation gather information in your community! Anyone can report a vessel to the database, and you don't need an account to submit a report.
Call for Speakers: Turning the Tide Summit
On December 6-9, 2026, BoatUS Foundation will host the second Turning the Tide Summit, in-person in New Orleans, LA. The conference will gather environmental agency staff, policymakers, industry leaders, boating enthusiasts, and others to discuss challenges and lessons learned while managing ADVs and sustainable disposal solutions for boating related waste, including fiberglass and shrink-wrap.
Submit your application to present in New Orleans and bookmark this page on the BoatUS Foundation website for more information about the conference.
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Marine Debris Foundation Announces Public-Private Partnership with Funding from NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP)
The Marine Debris Foundation was awarded funds from the NOAA MDP to support a five-year partnership to prevent, remove, and reduce marine debris in the United States and accelerate solutions to global marine debris issues.
The Marine Debris Foundation is a non-profit partner of NOAA MDP focused on supporting community-driven initiatives and advancing innovative solutions to prevent, remove, and reduce marine debris. This new award supports community grants for grassroots projects and the Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovation, a biennial national, competitive cash award authorized by Congress that recognizes promising innovations that prevent or remove marine debris for cleaner waters throughout the country.
Learn more about this new award on the Marine Debris Foundation website.
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New Derelict Fishing Gear Debris Regulations Take Effect in Massachusetts
In 2022, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries began working with the fishing industry, municipal leaders, conservation organizations, and law enforcement to update Massachusetts state legislative language that defines derelict fishing gear debris. This language distinguishes this debris from derelict fishing gear and streamlines administrative processes required to permit its removal. These regulations took effect on January 30, 2026. Learn more.
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Conferences & Events
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The National Marine Educator's Conference 2026 and a NOAA Blue Technology Education Workshop
The National Marine Educator's Conference 2026 will be hosted on July 12-16 in Cambridge, MD by the Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association (MAMEA). Join other educators for a "meeting of the waters" and celebrate 50 years of marine education. Submit your presentation proposal by February 28, 2026.
Immediately following the conference, the NOAA Ocean Exploration Team will host a Blue Technology Education Workshop. At this full-day professional development opportunity, participants will interact directly with blue technology organizations and learn how to bring the excitement of ocean engineering and exploration technologies into the classroom! Applications for educator scholarships are due February 28, 2026.
Visit the NMEA 2026 website to learn more about this workshop and other opportunities.
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Blue Ocean Symposium 2026
On Friday, March 27, the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation will gather educators, scientists, students, and ocean enthusiasts to learn together about the latest research in the Gulf of Maine. Anticipated topics include White Island terns, ocean sunfish, torpedo rays, green crabs, whales, microplastics, and bioplastics. The symposium will be hosted in Kittery, Maine with the option for virtual participation.
Learn more and register on the Blue Ocean Society website.
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Student Inspiration
From Island Paradise to the Long Island Sound: One Student's Mission to Map Marine Debris
 Debris accumulations in Parque Esperanza, Cataño, PR (Photo Credit: NOAA).
A history student at the University of Connecticut (UConn) learned about the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) protocol while exploring the beaches of Puerto Rico during a study abroad experience with Community Collaborations International.
Upon returning to UConn, they realized there were no MDMAP sites in their home state and set out to change that. With assistance from three other students and support from UConn’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fund, they established 44 MDMAP sites at public beaches along Long Island Sound this past summer. The student plans to apply what they’ve learned by producing an educational zine and data report, and incorporate their findings into lesson plans for their future classroom!
Help keep this community science monitoring effort going:
- MDMAP is an excellent volunteer opportunity! Learn more about what's involved in conducting an MDMAP beach survey through this helpful video series.
- Teachers, the MDMAP Educator's Guide can help you determine if MDMAP is right for your students.
- Check out this site map highlighting the beaches surveyed in Connecticut. If you don't call Connecticut home, zoom out and look around for a local beach you might be interested in surveying.
- Reach out to Demi Fox (demi.fox@noaa.gov) and Danielle Kamberalis (danielle.kamberalis@noaa.gov) if you’re interested in conducting surveys at any of these sites in Connecticut, or another beach in New England. We are happy to chat about any questions you may have!
Career Resources
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Advance Your Career in the Fishing Industry with New England Young Fishermen's Alliance
New England Young Fishermen's Alliance has applications open for training opportunities for both new small-boat fishermen and aspiring captains.
The Small-Boat Commercial Fishing Greenhorn Apprenticeship is a five-week program that provides training and mentorship to individuals, ages 18-45 who are interested in launching a career on local commercial fishing vessels in New England. Participants will learn about gear types, navigation, safety, seamanship, money management, and wellness skills essential to a career in the fishing industry. U.S. Coast Guard-certified training and First Aid/CPR certification are also included. Learn more about the apprenticeship and fill out your application online.
For those with three or more years of commercial fishing experience looking to become an owner-operator, learn everything you need to know to run your own fishing business through the Deckhand to Captain Training Program. Coast Guard Certified Safety and Survival Training is also included. Find more information online about the requirements and training included in this nine-month program.
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EarthEcho Seeks Marine Plastic Ambassadors
The Marine Plastics Ambassador Program by EarthEcho provides young ocean advocates with seed funds, training, and advocacy resources to develop and lead campaigns to address plastic pollution in their communities. This six-month program is open to 75 individuals in the US, ages 18-22.
Learn more and apply on the EarthEcho website.
Deadline: March 1, 2026, 11:59 PM ET
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