In March, NOAA is raising awareness about the issue of marine debris through the #DebrisFree campaign. Marine debris includes anything made by humans that has been lost or discarded into the marine environment: from huge derelict vessels to microplastics smaller than the head of a pin. This form of pollution impacts our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes, disrupting ecosystems and endangering mariners. This month, we're sharing ideas to help educators and students learn about and take action toward reducing marine debris.
![Students at Sir Francis Drake High School collect bags of marine debris that washed ashore on Point Reyes Beach in northern California. (Image credit: Michael Wing) Students at Sir Francis Drake High School collect bags of marine debris that washed ashore on Point Reyes Beach in northern California.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_width_1275/public/legacy/image/2019/Jun/SirFrancisDrakeCrop.png?itok=7ZnhFIGb)
Students at Sir Francis Drake High School collect bags of marine debris that washed ashore on Point Reyes Beach in northern California. (Image credit: Michael Wing)