Marine Debris
A brief summary of several of our projects can be found below. Click “Read more” below a project to learn more!
MS BARRIER ISLAND CLEANUP INITIATIVE
Funded in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, MSCCP will host volunteer-based cleanups on the Gulf Islands National Seashore barrier islands. Volunteers will have opportunities to help us remove…
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Plastic degredation and Fragmentation through terrestial and Aquatic Environments
This study aims to expose plastics to different sequences of terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater environments to gain knowledge on rates of degradation as litter travels from land to aquatic habitats.…
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Factors Influencing Quality of Citizen Science-Collected Litter Data and the Retention of Recruited Citizen Scientists
The goal of this project is to further understand how external factors could affect the accuracy of citizen science (such as training level and background knowledge) and potentially influence participation…
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Impacts of Marine Debris on Salt Marsh Habitat
This study aims to assess the impacts of marine debris on a black needlerush (Juncus Roemerianus) salt marsh. Debris items (discarded crab traps and solid pvc sheets) were placed in…
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Microplastics in MS Bayous
Microplastic samples are taken from Bayou Chico and Bayou Heron over the span of four seasons. These samples, consisting of water and sediment, are taken from the same upstream and…
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Plastic Free Gulf Coast
The long term vision of Plastic Free Gulf Coast is to support building a green economy that can expand as consumers begin to use and request alternatives to plastic, including…
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Derelict Trap Reward Program
Registered Mississippi shrimpers that participate in the program can dispose of derelict traps that they encounter during regular fishing efforts in exchange for a monetary reward. The goal of this…
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Derelict Vessel Removal and Assessment
Through this multi-year project the team is removing large marine debris items from coastal and marine habitats in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically derelict and abandoned vessels. Activities include the…
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Deer Island Marine Debris Mapping and Removal
The primary objective of the initiative is to regularly map and monitor the distribution of marine debris on Deer Island using drone surveys. Once a month, drone images are analyzed…
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MS Inland Cleanup
The Mississippi Inland Cleanup Program (MSICP) is a litter education, awareness, & prevention initiative that aims to serve the community through cleanup events, outreach, and research. This program is sponsored…
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MS Coastal Cleanup
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program (MSCCP) is a non-profit educational program that promotes the conservation of the local marine environment by facilitating active stewardship within coastal Mississippi. The MSCCP mission…
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SWAPS
SWAPS (Sustainability with Awareness and Prevention Solutions) is a four-module learning series that provides students with a broad understanding of the litter and waste issues facing individuals, schools, and communities…
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