Marine Debris
Cleaner shores. Stronger coastal communities. We connect local action with marine science to remove debris, monitor shorelines, and develop practical solutions for healthier oceans and thriving coastal communities.
Sibarunun Shoreline Cleanup & Monitoring
Local partners collect, sort, weigh, and document debris along the shoreline. The project supports paid local cleanup work and develops practical arrangements for recycling, transport, and responsible disposal.
Collection totals describe material collected. They do not confirm final recycling or disposal.
Results From the Field
Follow Sibarunun’s cleanup work through recorded hours, material collected, and dated photographs.
Collection, Sorting & Responsible Handling
Debris is separated by material, weighed, photographed, and recorded. Transport, recycling, and disposal arrangements are being developed for this remote island setting. Project updates distinguish completed work from next steps.
Monitoring Shoreline Change
Repeat shoreline surveys complement cleanup records by documenting the debris observed over time. Survey observations and cleanup totals serve different purposes and are kept separate.
Help Keep Sibarunun Clean
Support paid local cleanup work, supplies, and the practical costs of handling marine debris. Donations through the dedicated fund are restricted to Sibarunun cleanup.
Learn About Marine Debris
Explore how debris reaches the ocean, how it moves, and what research tells us about accumulation zones.
REFERENCE AND RESEARCH
NOAA Marine Debris Program — What Is Marine Debris
NOAA Marine Debris Program — Garbage Patches
Carpenter and Smith (1972), Plastics on the Sargasso Sea Surface
Moore et al. (2001), A Comparison of Plastic and Plankton in the North Pacific Central Gyre
Connan et al. (2021), Microplastic pollution in the Indian Ocean