Marine debris is a challenging problem.

Across the country, NOAA and partners remove everything from lost fishing gear tangled on the seafloor to sunken vessels, abandoned tire reefs , and other trash that have become hazards to navigation and marine ecosystems in the ocean and Great Lakes.

Beginning in 2013, NOAA and its partners began to take on the removal of larger-scale marine debris that is beyond what is considered typical — this includes the removal of abandoned vessels, barges, piers, and other debris that can remain in the environment for decades.…