Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project

The Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project, or MDMAP, is NOAA’s flagship initiative to measure the amount and types of marine debris on shorelines. Using this standardized collection method, suite of helpful resources, and publicly available data, participants and volunteers can detect differences in marine debris over time, inspire prevention efforts, and inform education and outreach. MDMAP is also a great opportunity to get outside and get to know your local shorelines!

How big is the marine debris problem, and how is it changing over time? What types of debris are most common in your region? MDMAP survey data can help to answer these questions and can be used to guide marine debris policy development, provide education and outreach, and address important research questions.

This Toolbox contains resources for both current and new MDMAP partner organizations and volunteers.

Why focus on shorelines and macro debris?

As the boundary between land and aquatic ecosystems, shorelines provide a unique window into the source and fate of marine debris in both environments. The MDMAP project focuses on macro debris because it can be readily seen with the naked eye and anyone can contribute meaningful data without the need for specialized equipment or training. Additionally, because large items break up into smaller pieces over time, monitoring macro debris can also provide information about micro debris (smaller than a bottle cap).

New to MDMAP and looking for steps to get started?

Start by reviewing our tutorial series.
Review the protocol documents and field datasheets in this toolbox.
Decide if you want to survey an existing active site, rejuvenate a historical site, or start a new MDMAP site in your area. A map of all existing MDMAP sites can be found here.
Request an account if you’ll be entering data. MDMAP staff will work with you to set up your account.
Reach out to md.monitoring@noaa.gov with any questions.
Begin surveying!

Debris Tracker App

You can download the Debris Tracker App to log MDMAP data!

The Debris Tracker App was developed in 2010 as a joint initiative between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative (SEA-MDI), and was managed by the University of Georgia College of Engineering. The Debris Tracker is now powered by Morgan Stanley in partnership with National Geographic Society and the University of Georgia, with additional support from 11th Hour Racing. The app can be used wherever you are and data can be downloaded for free through an online database after creating an account.

Through a new partnership between the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the University of Georgia, MDMAP participants can now collect and save their data using the Debris Tracker App. MDMAP data collected using the app will be imported into the MDMAP database, creating a new pathway to contribute rigorous, standardized monitoring data.

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The collection of MDMAP information is authorized under the OMB Control Number included in the Citizen Science & Crowdsourcing Information Collection page.

Monitoring Toolbox:

Tutorials

Start by viewing our tutorial series, available in English and Spanish. These four short training videos introduce participants to MDMAP and how to conduct a survey. Use them to get started, refresh your skills, or to train new team members. These videos complement the Shoreline Survey Guide and Item Categorization Guide, also found here.