Abandoned Vessel Program (NOAA - Damage Assessment Center)

Abandoned vessels pose a significant threat to the NOAA Trust resources through physical destruction of coral habitats and dispersion of toxic chemicals and gear. The Damage Assessment Center (DAC) is addressing this issue by creating a comprehensive database of abandoned vessels that could potentially threaten coral ecosystems in U.S. waters. Current databases are limited in their scope or definition of abandoned vessels. Project members have also drafted a legal analysis and white paper of the issue. In Summer 2002, we will survey priority vessels and work on securing funding for high-priority removals.,