Hurricane Response Marine Debris Removal Fund 2024 Request for Proposals

In 2022, NFWF will award approximately $6 million in grants to reduce marine debris from coastal habitats and nearshore waters of coastal counties in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and South Carolina impacted by the 2022 hurricanes Fiona, Ian and Nicole and Typhoon Merbok. The program primarily funds projects that are ready for immediate clean-up efforts to remove and dispose of marine debris that resulted from storms.

Severe storms can cause significant debris in the way of capsized vessels, moved and lost fishing gear, large terrestrial debris like logs and structures washed out to sea, and torn up coastal infrastructure like docks or piers. This debris can cause both immediate and prolonged harm to already impacted coastal communities in navigation safety, coastal and marine industry and tourism, and potentially human safety and health. Marine debris can also have immediate and prolong impact on wildlife through entanglement and ingestion and habitats from scouring and smothering.