Our program
Since 2016, the Santa Rosa Island Research Station has removed over 24,000 pounds of marine debris from the Northern Channel Islands. The program is currently funded by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (2024-2026), with the goal of surveying and cleaning beaches on Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands. This work helps restore the critical intertidal and near-shore ecosystems that include nesting grounds for snowy plovers, critical habitat for island foxes, and rookeries for elephant seals.
Students Making a Difference
Students and community volunteers join the marine debris trips to gain skills in environmental survey techniques and remote fieldwork. During the summer, SRIRS hosts annual Tonnage Trips with 9-12 volunteers to remove large quantities of marine debris. During these trips, SRIRS recruits students who represent a wide range of academic disciplines and work together to complete intensive beach cleanups. This work includes lifting heavy packs of waste off the beach, weighing the debris, and sorting it for proper disposal. Students use the data and waste collected on the annual trips for capstone research projects, artworks, and exhibitions.
Want to join a marine debris expedition? Submit a volunteer application to be considered for future trips.
Monitoring Marine Debris
Marine debris surveys are conducted on seven beaches across Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands during the spring, summer, and fall. To better understand the types of waste that wash ashore and their potential sources, SRIRS staff and volunteers conduct 100-meter transect surveys at each site.
Leaving an impact
SRIRS uses the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) transect survey protocol. The Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project database (MD Maps) tracks trends in marine debris accumulation across marine environments throughout the United States. On the Northern Channel Islands, the most common debris is single-use plastics, while the greatest mass of debris comes from local and international commercial fishing gear.
In addition to contributing to NOAA's database, SRIRS collects GPS coordinates for abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and foil balloons. The research station tracks the abundance of these common types of marine debris to inform data-driven marine debris policy.
Field Work Finding
| Project Name | Link |
|---|---|
| NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project database | |
| Santa Rosa Island Research Station, ArcGIS Map | |
| Watch us in action! |
Contact us
Marine Debris Coordinator
.