Storm water that flows along streets from rain or snow can carry street litter into storm drains and then to a nearby river, stream, canal, or even directly to the ocean. As shown by the polluted marina photographed here in 2009, this trash eventually can be washed into the ocean, where it becomes marine debris. (NOAA MDP)

The NOAA Marine Debris Program has funded and helped support over 140 projects working with partners and addressing marine debris across the nation, including the Great Lakes. Pictured here are common debris items found in the Great Lakes. (NOAA MDP)

Littering, dumping, and poor waste management practices all contribute to the problem of marine debris. These marine debris items collected in Hawaii in 2007 are commonly found on beaches (except for the apple and orange). At the beach, park, or playground, you can help solve this problem by picking up any debris you see while out and by disposing of all trash in the proper receptacles. (NOAA MDP)

Marine debris is mixed with driftwood on a beach in Hawaii. Marine debris of all types accumulates in and around the Hawaiian Islands due to oceanic currents and winds in the North Pacific. (NOAA MDP)

Large conglomerations of derelict fishing nets, sometimes weighing thousands of pounds, are removed from U.S. reefs and shores each year. A partnership in Hawaii devised a unique program to recycle these abandoned nets into usable electricity. The derelict fishing nets pictured here were collected in Alaska during cleanup efforts in 2011. (NOAA MDP)