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New Education Webpage
NOAA’s Marine Debris Program has created an easy-to-use platform for all of our educational materials. Head to marinedebris.noaa.gov/education, and dive into the many resources NOAA’s Marine Debris Program offers to help keep the sea free of debris!
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Twenty-one teachers from the University of Hawai‘i College of Education STEMS^2 Master’s of Education Program at Mokulē‘ia Army Beach on O‘ahu (Credit: Kōkua Hawai'i Foundation's Plastic Free Hawai'i Program).
Submitted by: Lisa Jeffers-Fabro, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation's Plastic Free Hawai'i Program
Plastic Free Hawaiʻi staff and volunteers hosted 21 teachers from the University of Hawai‘i College of Education STEMS² Master’s of Education Program at Mokulē‘ia Army Beach on O‘ahu. STEMS² focuses on real-world problem solving via project-based and place-based learning within a social context that integrates science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the social sciences while focusing on youths’ development in relation to their sense of self as local and global citizens. Teachers engaged in hands-on lessons about plastic pollution, waste management, and waste reduction. Teachers also participated in a beach cleanup, collecting and recording 34 pounds of litter and debris which was mostly single-use plastic, personal hygiene items, metal, and tiny trash less than 2.5cm. Ways to integrate the activities across the curriculum were discussed, and participants received a Plastic Free Hawai‘i Education Resource Packet.
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Hawai‘i AIR Station grand opening, April 24, 2021 (Credit: Wakeful State).
Submitted by: Nicholas Schippers, Parley for the Oceans
The Parley AIR Station at Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, is off to an amazing start with over 2,800 individuals engaged in the first two months of operations. Visitors learn about the oceans and walk away with a better understanding of what they can do to take action at home and within their own communities to tackle plastic pollution and climate change.
In addition to daily educational sessions the Parley AIR Station hosts monthly Sunset Sessions that offer educational and entertaining opportunities to learn in a pau hana setting that gets your weekend off to a great start. These family friendly events run on the second Friday of each month from 6-9pm. Sign up can be done online at parley.tv/air-station-hawaii.
A complete hagfish funnel. Each make is distinctive by its hole placement, shape, and count (Credit: Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i).
Submitted by: Cynthia Welti, Surfrider Foundation Kaua'i Chapter
Surfrider Foundation is studying the impact of hagfish traps from north Pacific fisheries. Thousands of these funnel-shaped traps wash up on Hawai‘i shores contributing to microplastics, biofouling, and endangering Hawaiian monk seals pups who play with them. NOAA has documented six seal entanglement in the past five years in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i is requesting help in collecting funnels from the main Hawaiian Islands. We plan to identify funnel makers and users in the fishing industry. The intent is to reduce the number of funnels that are lost/discarded each year by collaborating on solutions with U.S.-based hagfish fisheries.
We are also looking to fill a half-time academic project paid intern position. If you are interested in helping with collections or the internship, please contact Cynthia Welti at chair@kauai.surfrider.org.
Ghost net that washed up along the coastline of Moloka‘i (Credit: @raftography/Rafael Bergstrom/@SustainableCoastlinesHawaii).
Submitted by: Monica Mclenigan, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi is launching their new Marine Debris Rapid Response program on Oʻahu that is designed to remove derelict fishing nets (ghost nets) washing up in coastal areas around the island.
Reports made through the Marine Debris Rapid Response hotline, 833-4DA-NETS, or the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources online marine debris reporting form are sent directly to the team of marine debris removal specialists who work together to safely remove ghost nets from the coastlines as soon as possible. The DLNR will also be working with partner organizations – like Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (Maui), Surfrider Foundation - Kauaʻi Chapter (Kauaʻi), and Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund (Hawaiʻi Island) – to remove ghost nets on neighbor islands.
Submitted by: Fawn Liebengood, Litterati
Over 380 million tons of plastic is produced annually, and half of all plastic produced is used to create single-use packaging and products. Plastic production is predicted to quadruple by 2050. In response, cities around the world are working to pass legislation to reduce the environmental impact of plastics. However, these cities are facing issues such as:
- Determining which plastic materials to focus potential legislation on,
- Getting environmental legislation passed effectively and expediently, and
- Measuring the impact of their current environmental policy and spending expenditures.
In July, Litterati led a discussion with 5 Gyres, the Surfrider Foundation, and the City of Pittsburgh on how they led the way towards more effective legislation and successful interventions on plastic waste using litter data. Check out the webinar replay here!
Novel "Denisty Separation Device" currently in development through the collaboration of CMDR, WHOI, and ACC (Credit: Jenna Karr, M.S.).
Submitted by: Jennifer Lynch, Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research
The Hawai‘i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR) has partnered with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and the American Chemical Council (ACC) to develop an affordable, effective, and accessible method for extracting microplastic from deep sea sediment.
The goal of the research collaboration is to utilize a novel density separation device for high plastic recovery without damaging the integrity of plastic debris. Researchers at Woods Hole have supplied CMDR with deep sea sediment cores originating from the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series. Spiked sample experiments will utilize 8 polymers between 50 and 300 µm to assess the effectiveness of the new device, and results aim to provide the microplastic research community with a method which avoids harsh chemical methodology.
BEAT DEBRIS citizen-science diver removing derelict fishing gear from a near-shore reef on O'ahu (Credit: Elyse Butler, Hawaii Marine Animal Response).
Submitted by: Lauren Chamberlain, Hawaii Marine Animal Response
In October, 2020 Hawaii Marine Animal Response (HMAR) partnered with NOAA to launch its citizen science project, BEAT DEBRIS. This project encourages divers on the main Hawaiian Islands to report any in-water debris collected during their dives. The objective of BEAT DEBRIS is to collect data on the types and quantities of debris found in the near-shore environment around the state of Hawai‘i, with an emphasis on derelict fishing gear. HMAR, in partnership with local businesses, such as Aaron’s Dive Shop in Kailua, hosts quarterly contests to give away prizes up to $500 to divers who submit Debris Reports. In the past nine months, divers have collected approximately 2,000 pounds of debris, including an estimated 6,500 ft. of line, 1,100 fishing weights, and 280 fishhooks.
Learn more.
Truck load of debris removed from the Ala Wai before being sorted at the data collection center (Credit: @bayliebofenkamp/baylie@sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org).
Submitted by: Monica Mclenigan, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi hosted a cleanup on June 26th on the south shore of Oʻahu at three different locations – Kaimukī, Ala Wai, and Magic Island. Over the course of three hours, the organization mobilized 550 volunteers to clean up 5,000+ pounds of trash. Of the 5,000+ pounds, 42 pounds will be recycled by Bottles4College, and 760 pounds of metal will be recycled by Schnitzer Steel. Other unique numbers that stood out to us were:
- 417 plastic + foam takeout containers
- 12 pounds of plastic film + wrappers
- 231 bottle caps
- 317 plastic bottles
- 103 plastic utensils + straws
- 2,008 cigarette butts
Before the team intercepted it, this trash collected from the Ala Wai Watershed was headed for the Pacific Ocean.
Learn more.
Submitted by: Barbara Wiedner, Surfrider Foundation Kaua'i Chapter
Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter and Kaua‘i Society of Artists hosted their 3rd annual marine debris art show June 4- July 2. This educational show featured 26 artists and 72 pieces were created with at least 50% marine debris. This years art show kicked off with a reception! Surfrider had an educational table set up throughout the show, which 634 people attended. World Ocean Day was celebrated at the gallery with hands-on activities for kids.
2021 Washed Up Marine Debris Art Show Stats:
- 26 artists and 72 pieces
- 27 sales totaling $3,988 (three items purchased for $950 after viewing the YouTube video)
- 634 visitors between June 4 - July 2 (537 adults and 97 children, as noted in the Show Sitter's book)
- 6 cash awards totaling $1,100
Check out the 2021 Washed Up Marine Debris Art Show here.
The articles written by partners are not the opinions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and do not imply that NOAA recommends or endorses those expressed by partner organizations. These opinions and their associated actions will be carried out by interested partner organizations and are not affiliated with NOAA or the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
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