Appl_ID: 11267200 grant number: NA25NOSX999C0033-T1-01 title: expanding large marine debris removal coordination throughout micronesia: a 2.5 million square mile collaboration spanning cnmi, palau,…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded Pacific Coastal Research & Planning a $4.937 million Cooperative Agreement on October 1, 2025, to remove marine debris across Micronesia under the Marine Debris Program (CFDA 11.999).

The award funds removal of 23 run-down and abandoned boats and approximately 40,000 pounds of old fishing gear from coastal environments across a 2.5 million square mile collaboration spanning the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The work will support approximately 60 jobs with local marine contractor companies performing the removal operations and project coordination roles funded by the grant. These removals target safety and navigation hazards in biologically rich coastal ecosystems that support nature-based tourism economies in all three jurisdictions.

Pacific Coastal Research & Planning, a nonprofit environmental conservation organization registered in the Northern Mariana Islands, is the recipient. The total obligated amount is $5.234 million. The period of performance runs through September 30, 2029, with place of performance in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Appl_ID: 11267200 grant number: NA25NOSX999C0033-T1-01 title: expanding large marine debris removal coordination throughout micronesia: a 2.5 million square mile collaboration spanning cnmi, palau, and pohnpei the award of $4,937,010 will remove 23 run-down and abandoned boats and about 40,000 pounds of old fishing gear from the coastal environments of the U.S. Territory of the commonwealth of the northern marianas islands, and the freely associated states (FAS) of the republic of palau, and federated states of micronesia. IT will support approximately 60 jobs from the local marine contractor companies carrying out the removal work, in addition to the project coordination roles funded by the grant award. These removals will eliminate safety and navigation hazards from some of the most biologically-rich coastal ecosystems in the world, having a positive benefit to the predominant nature-based tourism economies in all of these jurisdictions.