Marine Debris Survey and Removal from the Papahanaumokuakea (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands) Marine National Monument

Download a summary handout of this project ( 560kb).

Background and Overview

The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) are home to endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, seabirds, and a near-pristine coral reef ecosystem. Due to the islands’ location in the North Pacific gyre, these marine species and ecosystems are threatened by marine debris which accumulates there. Most of this debris consists of derelict fishing gear, which can entangle and severely injure or even kill wildlife.

Ongoing since 1996, staff with the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Division have removed derelict nets from the reefs and shores of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Annually, more than 52 metric tons of marine debris accumulate in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Dameron et al., 2007).

In 2006, this removal effort switched to a “maintenance mode.” Smaller, more targeted removal efforts are conducted focusing on high-density areas of derelict fishing gear.

All nets brought back are used to create electricity in Hawaii’s Nets to Energy Program. This program has been ongoing and successful due to the private-public partnership of Hawaii’s multi-agency marine debris partners. Since 2002, when the Nets to Energy Program began, this derelict fishing gear removal effort has produced enough electricity to power 260 homes for a year each (energy conversion forumla courtesy of the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism).

This project has been co-funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program since 2005.

Also visit Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Efforts by NOAA PIFSC CRED.

Reference Cited: Dameron, O., M. Parke, M. Albins, and R. Brainard. 2007. Marine debris accumulation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: An examination of rates and processes. Marine Pollution Bulletin 54: 423-433.

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Results

Year	Metric tons
1996/1997	4.37
1998	7.50
1999	25.36
2000	22.43
2001	61.55
2002	97.27
2003	107.47
2004	113.93
2005	51.81
2006	19.00
2007	30.74
2008	61.63
2009	68.40
total	671.45

(1 metric ton = ~2,205 lbs)

Since 2002 (when Hawaii's Nets to Energy Program began), this project has created enough electricity to power 260 homes for a year each.

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Partners

City and County of Honolulu
Covanta Energy
NOAA (Coral Reef Conservation Program, Marine Debris Program, and PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Division)
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
Schnitzer Steel Hawaii Corporation
U.S. Coast Guard

…and many other Hawaii multi-agency marine debris partners.

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