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The NOAA NCEI Global Marine Microplastics Data Collection (1972-present)

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: October 04, 2025 | Last Modified: 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000+00:00
Microplastics (i.e., plastics measuring less than 5mm) pollution is a growing problem affecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, aquatic life, and human health. The widespread occurrence of marine microplastics, and the need to curb its threats, require expansive, and continuous monitoring. While microplastic research has increased in recent years and generated significant volumes of data, there is a lack of a robust, open access, and long-term aggregation of this data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) marine microplastic data collection provides a global open access to marine microplastic data on an easily discoverable and accessible GIS web map and data portal (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/microplastics). The objective of this data portal is to develop a repository where microplastics data are aggregated, archived, and served in a user friendly, consistent, and reliable manner. This work contributes to NCEI’s efforts towards data standardization, integration, harmonization, and interoperability among national and international collaborators for monitoring global marine microplastics.

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AGULHAS II Sir James Clark Ross Solander SOUTHERN SURVEYOR SSV ROBERT C. SEAMANS Tara URANIA USS Sea Dragon XIANG YANG HONG 03 5 Gyres Institute Adventure Scientists Atlantic Technological University Auburn University Bangladesh Agricultural University Beibu Gulf University Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Catholic University of Valencia Saint Vincent Martyr Chulalongkorn University City University of Hong Kong Duke University EAN University Federal University of Pará Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute Manipal Institute of Technology Marine Scotland Science Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari Metropolitan Autonomous University National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences National School of Marine Science and Coastal Planning National Taiwan University, Department of Geosciences NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Norwegian Institute for Water Research NOVA University Lisbon Oceaneye Association Plymouth Marine Laboratory Polytechnic University of Tapachula Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro Scion Research Scottish Association for Marine Science Scripps Institution of Oceanography Sea Education Association Sorbonne University State Oceanic Administration, Third Institute of Oceanography Sultan Qaboos University The Ocean Cleanup The University of Southern Mississippi The University of Texas at Austin Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology University of Alaska Anchorage University of Barcelona University of Copenhagen University of Cuenca University of Ferrara University of Fribourg University of Ghana University of Haifa University of La Laguna University of Newcastle University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rovira i Virgili University of South Florida University of the Philippines Diliman University of the South Pacific University of the West Indies University of Tokyo University of Toronto University of Western Australia UT Austin Marine Science Institute Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Zhejiang University of Technology 5 Gyres Institute Atlantic Technological University Auburn University Bangladesh Agricultural University Beibu Gulf University Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Catholic University of Valencia Saint Vincent Martyr Chulalongkorn University City University of Hong Kong Duke University EAN University Federal University of Pará Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel Hellenic Centre for Marine Research Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute Manipal Institute of Technology Marine Scotland Science Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari Metropolitan Autonomous University Minjiang University Mississippi State University National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences National School of Marine Science and Coastal Planning National Taiwan University, Department of Geosciences NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Norwegian Institute for Water Research NOVA University Lisbon Oceaneye Association Plymouth Marine Laboratory Polytechnic University of Tapachula Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro Sail and Explore Association Scion Research Scottish Association for Marine Science Scripps Institution of Oceanography Sorbonne University State Oceanic Administration, Third Institute of Oceanography Sultan Qaboos University The Ocean Cleanup The University of Texas at Austin Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology University of Alaska Anchorage University of Barcelona University of Copenhagen University of Cuenca University of Ferrara University of Ghana University of Haifa University of La Laguna University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rovira i Virgili University of South Florida University of the Philippines Diliman University of the South Pacific University of the West Indies University of Tokyo University of Toronto University of Western Australia UT Austin Marine Science Institute Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Zhejiang University of Technology World-Wide Distribution oceanography DE/GEOMAR > GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce NO/NIVA > Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Norway TUMST > Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology UH&I-UK/SAMS > Scottish Association for Marine Science, University of Highlands and Islands, UK UK/NERC/PML > Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom URI/GSO > Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island WHOI > WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION Adventure Scientists Microplastic Data Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition European Commission IDEM Exzellenzcluster Proposal CP1756, Volvo Ocean Race Global Change and Air-sea Interaction II (GASI-01-NPAC-STsum) I-MarCat Italian Antarctic Research Program (PNRA, 30th Antarctic Expedition) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Collaborative Research Fellowships for a Responsive and Innovative Europe (CAROLINE) NCCOS Sponsored Research > RESTORE Science Program NUREIEV Plastics in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre RESTORE Project- Linking habitat to recruitment: evaluating the importance of pelagic Sargassum to fisheries management in the Gulf of Mexico Red BAMAR Research on the Marine Chemistry and Sedimentary Environment Baseline in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (No.DY135-E2-5-02) Scripps Environmental Accumulation of Plastic Expedition (SEAPLEX) Surface plastic debris in the eastern Pacific Ocean EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > WATER QUALITY > SEA SURFACE CONTAMINANTS > MICROPLASTIC CONCENTRATION Earth Science > Agriculture > Agricultural Aquatic Sciences > Fisheries Earth Science > Biological Classification > Plants > Macroalgae (Seaweeds) > Brown Algae Field Observation NOAA RESTORE Science Program Award NA17NOS4510099 Adventure Scientists-Global Microplastic volunteer initiative Fish Diet Analysis Fish Gut Analysis Fisheries Microplastic Concentration Microplastic Ingestion Microplastics Pelagic Habitat Pelagic Sargassum Plastic Surface Plastic Debris BAROMETERS > BAROMETERS COMPASSES DREDGING DEVICES > DREDGING DEVICES FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY > FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY FTIR SPECTROMETER > Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer GPS RECEIVERS > GPS RECEIVERS GRAB SAMPLERS GRANULOMETRIC SIEVES MICROSCOPES > MICROSCOPES NETS > NETS NEUSTON NET NISKIN BOTTLES PLANKTON NETS SEDIMENT CORERS > SEDIMENT CORERS SPECTROMETERS TEMPERATURE SENSORS > TEMPERATURE SENSORS THERMOSALINOGRAPHS TRAPS > TRAPS TRAWL CTD: Idronaut Ocean Seven 304Plus, (Temperatur, Salinität) Chla: Trios MicroFlu (TTOP Leg 0 till 7, AN Leg 9 till 11) or Trios NanoFlu (TTOP Leg 8 till 12, AN Leg 7; due to swapped systems in Itajaí) Ocean Pack pCO2: Licor 840-A 1-L sample bottle Aluminum bucket Bongo net Day grab Dip Net Dissecting Microscope Ekman dredge Ekman grab Hand picking Intake seawater pump Kubiena box MOCNESS multinet Manta net Manta net, Neuston net, AVANI net (All-purpose Velocity Accelerated Net Instrument) Megacorer Metal scoop Metal spoon Net tow Net tows Neuston Neuston net Neuston net; Manta net PVC cylinder Petite Ponar benthic grab Ponar grab sampler Purse seine net Remotely operated vehicle Sabiki hook and line fishing Sediment grab sampler Shipek grab sampler Stainless steel bucket Stainless steel spoon Surface water intake Trowel Van Dorn sampler Van Veen grab Van Veen grab sampler Water pump beam trawl bottom trawling box corer cage cylindrical crab trap glass jar hand collection hand line handpicking longline with hooks market purchase metal shovel minnow trap polycarbonate bottles quadrat shovel stainless steel sampler stainless steel shovel stainless steel spatula stainless-steel spatula steel corer stranding surface gillnet zooplankton net SUBMARINE Ships AKADEMIK TRYOSHNIKOV (call sign: UBXH3, ICES code: RUB3, 2012-) CELTIC VOYAGER (call sign: EIQN, ICES code: 45CV, 1997-) CORWITH CRAMER (call sign: WTF3319, ICES code: 33CC, 1988-) Cabo de Hornos (call sign: CB7960, ICES code: 20HZ, 2004-) Celtic Explorer (call sign: EIGB, ICES code: 45CE, 2003-) Discovery (call sign: 2FGX5, ICES code: 74EQ, 2013-) LA PELAGIA (call sign: FTNJ, ICES code: 35LG, 1965-1986) NEW HORIZON (call sign: WKWB, ICES code: 32NM, 1978-2015) ODEN (call sign: SMLQ, ICES code: 77DN) OKEANOS EXPLORER (call sign: WTDH, ICES code: 334A, 2008-) ORION (ICES code: 28OR) PELAGIA (call sign: PGRQ, ICES code: 64PE, 1991-) POINT SUR (call sign: WSC2276, ICES code: 32P0, 1980-) Polarstern (call sign: DBLK, ICES code: 06AQ, 1982-) Robert C. Seamans (call sign: WDA4486, ICES code: 33GY, 2001-) S. A. Agulhas II (call sign: ZSNO, ICES code: 91AH, 2009-) SEA DRAGON (ICES code: 32S2) SIR JAMES CLARK ROSS (ICES code: 587O, 1923-1930) SOLANDER (call sign: VMQ9273, ICES code: 09CX) SOUTHERN SURVEYOR (call sign: VLHJ, ICES code: 09SS, 1988-2014) Tara (call sign: FVNM, ICES code: 35XI, 2009-) URANIA (ICES code: 64UR) XIANG YANG HONG 03 (call sign: BNVB, ICES code: 76X3) Ángeles Alvariño (call sign: EASE, ICES code: 29AJ, 2012-) Академик Мстислав Келдыш (ICES code: 90BP, 1981-1992) ПРОФЕССОР КАГАНОВСКИЙ (call sign: UTTW, ICES code: 90ZH, 1987-1991) AKADEMIK TRYOSHNIKOV (call sign UBXH3 - ICES code RUB3) Angeles Alvarino (call sign EASE - ICES code 29AJ) Comac Enterprise Dongfeng Race Team MRV Alba na Mara MRV Scotia MS Malippo MS “Malippo” MV Maersk Launcher MV Maersk Transporter Mapfre NEW HORIZON (call sign WKWB - ICES code 32NM) ORV Alguita Okeanos Explorer (call sign WTDH - ICES code 334A) R/V Aegeao R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh R/V Cap’n Bert R/V Celtic Voyager R/V Filia R/V Kiya R/V Mediterranean Explorer R/V Mtafiti R/V Tara R/V Xuelong ROVs RRS Discovery RRS James Clark Ross RV Celtic Explorer RV IV Lluerna RV Orion RV Pelagia RV Polarstern RV Professor Kaganovskiy RV Sir John Murray RV Stad Amsterdam RV XIANG YANG HONG 03 S.A. AGULHAS II (call sign ZSNO - ICES code 91AH) SV Mir SV Rainbow Warrior SV Sea Dragon Sun Hung Kai Scallywag Team AkzoNobel Team Brunel Turn the Tide on Plastic Vestas 11th Hour Racing GEOGRAPHIC REGION > GLOBAL OCEAN Waterbodies > Gulf of Mexico Alaska Atlantic Ocean Australia Bahamas Beibu Gulf Brazil Bulgarian Black Sea Canada Chile Columbia Costa Rica Dominican Republic East-Siberian Sea Eastern Mediterranean Sea Eastern Pacific Ocean Equatorial Guinea France Gabes Gulf Galápagos Global Global Ocean Great Barrier Reef Greece Guatemela Gulf of Guayaquil Gulf of Lion Gulf of Venice Kenya Kuroshio Current Laptev Sea Levantine Sea Manila Bay Mexico NW Mediterranean Sea Narragansett Bay New Zealand North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre North-West Mediterranean Sea Northwest Pacific Northwestern Mediterranean Sea Pacific Ocean Playa Grande beach: Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain San Francisco Bay Saronikos Gulf Scotland Sea of Oman Sri Lanka Taiwan United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Western Indian Ocean Western Mediterranean Western North Pacific Ocean 0370R2 06NWEE 09PKB9 0CCB5U 123CE1 139DEU 1RP301 226PKB 22YR0K 26430G 2M20XB 2X9KKU 31JGEX 35F99T 383Y9U 3BFHT5 3JK15T 3KC69K 4520RA 4JPDWP 4M115G 56JD45 5XFHCF 6D80CE 6NGB2H 74EPET 77WG2K 83849B 897C1N 8A0WYC 8HHW34 93J4B6 96BCU7 9RFULE 9XJUG9 9XWYE5 A03JJG A6C6B1 A8RCBD B0C93N B8LX93 BAU8LM BFFY91 BMEKJC C1W8UH C75PAK CU2GE7 D7B70T DCK5W1 DFTHMR DMM5WT E28YL3 EA11N3 EDE1PT EFD6MK EKJ0L9 ERWNCY ETL10F F1KAUU FJM26N G4X6P2 G5HM13 GFGLY1 GY7KLK H1MENE H1R14M H34EKT H4MBXJ HKP7PB J1XPR6 KF4KLC KTLDD1 KXW1J8 LA71JF LPRRLM LUBKCP M8NU9G MK0DL7 N1PPYL N37EY9 NBM4KM NCLL0F NCWWEH NDFWW7 NETMK9 NMMXKB P6L6AF PNUBR9 PYTFGE RCR7LN RJ6BCX TGPMFR TKM7FJ TTMNDE U21DKX UGU4PM WDPK8Y WU1NRY X3TWUH X54F7A YMF0NM YMXDHP YPXRBR YY6CU4

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