This project will benefit species and habitat through the removal of advs and the expansion and implementation of a vessel turn in program within the state of washington

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Marine Debris Program (CFDA 11.999) will provide $1,455,256 to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027. The project aims to benefit species and habitat through the removal of abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) and the expansion of DNR's Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) within Washington. Key activities include intercepting vessels before they become derelict or abandoned, expanding the VTIP vessel turn-in events, and prioritizing the removal of existing derelict vessels located on tribal lands. This project will leverage DNR's Derelict Vessel Removal Program to prevent more vessels from becoming derelict or abandoned, which can harm water quality and public safety.

The project plan is to intercept vessels before they become derelict or abandoned by expanding the reach and scale of WA DNR's vessel turn-in program (VTIP) through vessel turn-in events. This project will expand ADV prevention measures under the umbrella of washing department of natural resources' (DNR) derelict vessel removal program (DVRP). DNR manages a vessel turn-in program (VTIP), which allows washington residents with insufficient resources to turn their vessel in for free disposal. The goal of VTIP is to prevent boats from becoming derelict or abandoned and potentially harming water quality and/or threatening public safety. VTIP has successfully allowed DNR to address vessels before they become abandoned and derelict and has served as an outreach and education tool. Additionally, existing derelict vessels located on tribal land within the state of washington, which normally cannot be removed with state funding, will be prioritized for direct removal in this project because of their unique need for funding, their proximity to sensitive habitats, and the opportunity to leverage DVRP?S success in performing ADV removal.