New App to Document Wildlife Interactions with Marine Debris

DECEMBER 13, 2021 ─ December 3, 2021 -- As part of efforts under the Southeast Marine Debris Action Plan, the Wildlife and Habitat Impacts Working Group developed a new tool, Tangled in Trash: A Reporting Tool For Wildlife, with funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. 

This citizen science project allows anyone in the Southeast Region to document interactions between animals and marine debris. After submitting a report, observers will be encouraged to contact stranding networks or state wildlife responders to report particular species of live animals and certain types of deceased animals.


“This tool will house reported wildlife and marine debris interactions to help users, researchers, wildlife responders, and others identify critical trends and concerns and strategize actionable solutions,” explains Kelly Thorvalson, conservation program manager for the South Carolina Aquarium and coordinator for this project.


The Southeast Region is piloting this effort, but there are opportunities to expand to other regions if there is interest.  To check it out:


  • Go to the Tangled in Trash: A Reporting Tool for Wildlife website at https://anecdata.org/projects/view/861, or download the Anecdata App in the App Store or Google Play and search for Tangled in Trash.

  • Create a new Anecdata account (or log in if you already have one)

  • Click + New Observation 

  • Enter and submit data 

For more information, please contact Sarah.Latshaw@noaa.gov, lead for the Wildlife and Habitat Impacts Working Group. 

Last updated Monday, July 29, 2024 7:19am PDT