NATIONAL COASTAL DATA DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project

The Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project responds to the severe damage Hurricane Katrina inflicted on the Gulf of Mexico coastal region.



Storm surge and winds from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left huge amounts of wreckage and waste in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Though the surface may look calm, sunken marine debris poses a hazard to boats and fishing gear.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA’s) National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) worked collaboratively with local, state, and federal stakeholders to determine their data needs and to develop methods of disseminating information about marine debris in an effective, useful manner.

NOAA's Marine Debris Program, Office of Response and Restoration, and Office of Coast Survey, along with state National Sea Grant Offices, led a public outreach effort which included a Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project web site that allows users to access printable maps indicating submerged object location and density.

Debris PhotoSurvey work began in September 2006 in Alabama, Mississippi, and Eastern Louisiana.  In 2008, the survey area was extended westward to encompass the entire Louisiana coastline.  NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey and its contractors have been surveying the area with side-scan sonar and to date, have found over 6,500 submerged potential debris items, referred to as contacts. The sonar contacts were mapped and posted on the project Web site to advise boaters and assist with marine debris removal.


The maps provide survey data to those who need it for submerged object avoidance and removal activities. The project web site also links to a scalable, interactive mapping server (IMS), providing information about each identified submerged object. Additionally, it allows users to highlight unique data layers, such as navigation aids and benthic habitat information.


Additionally, NOAA has partnered with other Gulf agencies to create a Red Globe Gulf Storms Information Portal, which houses relevant information and links on storm activity, preparedness, impacts, and response.