Cape Cod National Seashore

Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

About the Display: This educational marine debris display at Cape Cod National Seashore features a 14-foot white shark and informational signage about the marine debris. The shark, affectionately named Sugar, or Mama Shug, is made entirely of marine debris collected from the National Seashore by the Center for Coastal Studies Beach Brigade, a group of volunteers dedicated to cleaning shorelines along Cape Cod.

Visitors that look closely at the sculpture will notice items that they use every day: single-use plastic bottles, bottle caps, fishing gear, beach toys, auto parts, and even shoes. These items found their way into the ocean and onto the shorelines of Cape Cod, before being fastened onto Mama Shug’s metal frame. Signs next to the sculpture share information about marine debris, where it comes from, and how it affects the National Seashore, our ocean, and wildlife. Visitors are invited to join a beach cleanup, make a pledge, and post a photo with the shark using #MarineDebrisBites.

This display was installed at the Herring Cove Bathhouse at Cape Cod National Seashore in 2023. In addition to funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, this display was supported by Cape Cod National Seashore and the Center for Coastal Studies. Sugar the shark is a creation of artist Cindy Pease Roe.

Learn more about this project and marine debris in Cape Cod National Seashore.