Emily on a waterfall hike in Washington state (Credit: Emily Greene).
We’re excited to welcome Emily Greene as our new Pacific Islands Regional Communications and Outreach Coordinator! Emily was born and raised in New England in a very small rural town. Although she loves the cold and snow, she left the northeast to get her bachelor’s degree in North Carolina. She graduated in 2020 from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) with degrees in marine biology and environmental science. After graduating, Emily worked in large and small animal emergency medicine as a veterinary technician at a clinic in New Hampshire. In 2021, she started working with Hawai’i Marine Animal Response (HMAR) as the Education and Engagement Manager. In her off time, Emily enjoys spending time with her dogs, hiking, going to the beach, surfing, taking photos with her film camera, and relaxing on the couch and watching some television. Emily is overjoyed to be able to work with all of MDP’s Pacific partners with their communications and outreach efforts. She is only an email away if you need some help, advice, or just want a second set of eyes!
For any questions, please contact Emily at emily.greene@noaa.gov.
Two PWF researchers with some of the trash removed on the first day of our surveys at Awalua beach (Credit: PWF).
Submitted by: Jens Currie, Pacific Whale Foundation
Responding to the August 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina, the Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) initiated daily marine debris surveys at two nearby beaches, immediately north and south of the burn area. These surveys aimed to assess the wildfire's impact on daily debris accumulation rates and the spread of fire-related debris items. In the first month, we collected 1,461 debris items, mainly plastic, with minimal fire-related debris found. However, as Maui has not experienced significant rainfall since the fire, we will continue surveys into October, supported by the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, to monitor potential impacts of runoff and storms. These crucial data will inform future cleanup strategies and deepen our understanding of wildfire effects on Maui's local marine ecosystems.
For more information, check out PWF's research webpage.
Fishing line and cigarette but recycling bins at Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor North (Credit: Laura Jim).
Submitted by: Laura Jim, Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy
In 2021, the Fishing Line and Cigarette Butt Recycling Program in West Hawaiʻi was launched to promote environmental sustainability by providing a responsible solution for the recycling and disposal of fishing lines and cigarette butts protecting aquatic ecosystems and preserving the health of West Hawaiʻi. Project leaders of this community created stewardship project are Cynthia Ho (Keep Puako Beautiful), Mandy Campbell (Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail), Laura Jim (Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy), Angie Fryer, Kelly and Sam Rohlfs. This project is made possible by landlord partnerships with County of Hawaiʻi, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, NOAA’s Marine Debris Program, Keep America Beautiful, children who have decorated the bins, and community volunteers including Wendy Noritake. To date, we have 11 bins installed in South Kohala with a total of 7,706 meters of line collected (4.9 miles) with four more planned for the Kona area.
To learn more about our recycling program, check out our website.
HMAR team removing a ghost net off of Hanauma Bay (Credit: Hunter Ferner).
Submitted by: Clara Orr, Hawaiʻi Marine Animal Response
Hawai'i Marine Animal Response (HMAR) has been busy with cleanups and large debris mass removals over the last few months. In late September, we partnered with Nudi Wear and Aaron's dive shop to do a shore cleanup at Waiāhole Beach Park, and we were able to remove over 2,500 pounds of debris off the coastline, including a kayak, 14 tires, and six floats.
Thanks to our contract with Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resource's Marine Debris Rapid Response Program, HMAR has had the opportunity to jump into action and pick up almost 3,000 pounds of debris off Oahu’s coastline, including a net mass weighing over 800 pounds, a rope mass weighing over 1,500 pounds, and 500 pounds of discarded telephone cabling.
View our monthly updates at our website to see everything else HMAR is doing.
PMDP diver separating a large net into pieces to remove from the water (Credit: PMDP).
Submitted by: James Morioka, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) recently completed a successful 2023 field season. This encompassed two distinct 28-day marine debris cleanup expeditions across the remote islands and atolls of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Northwestern Hawaiian Islands). PMDP successfully removed a total of 212,410 pounds (106 tons) of marine debris. This included the removal of 159,550 pounds (80 tons) of derelict fishing nets from the coral reefs, 30,235 pounds (15 tons) of nets from the shorelines, 17,800 pounds (9 tons) of plastics from the shorelines, and 4,825 pounds (2 tons) of large derelict items like boats and buoys.
Throughout these expeditions, the team surveyed and cleaned critical wildlife habitats, encompassing 2,730 acres of coral reef area (equivalent to 4.27 sq. miles) and over 8 miles of shoreline. Notably, PMDP also disentangled and rescued nine sea turtles ensnared in derelict fishing nets this year. Looking ahead to 2024, PMDP remains steadfast in its mission and aspires to exceed this year’s success by removing over 230,000 pounds of marine debris.
For more information, please visit PMDP's website and check out the 2023 Story Map.
STORAGE volunteers sampling the sand-column at Waimanalo Beach on August 13, 2023 (Credit: Astrid Delorme).
Submitted by: Kellie Teague, Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research
For the past year, the STORAGE project has been collecting data on plastic concentrations in the sand-column down to one meter depth on several beaches along the windward coast of Oʻahu. Led by Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Postdoctoral Fellow Astrid Delorme, PhD, STORAGE (predicting the fate of plaSTic On beaches by theiR 3D-distribution and weAtherinG procEsses) is a joint collaboration between Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research, The Ocean Cleanup, and Ifremer (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer). This project aims to study the fate (transportation and transformation) of marine plastic pollution in coastal environments and hopes to improve our understanding of the "missing plastic." Initial findings reveal that the majority (up to 95%) of the total plastic debris abundance in the sand-column is below the surface layer.
![PWF onboard vessel with large amount of marine debris](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USNOAANOS/2023/10/8396155/5041654/img-0067_crop.jpg) |
PWF and PacWhale team hauling 580 pounds of marine debris off Lāna’i via the PacWhale vessel Ocean Explorer (Credit: Danielle Rohlfing).
Submitted by: Susan Frett, Pacific Whale Foundation
Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) voyaged to Lānaʻi for our first beach cleanup on the island! On Thursday, September 28, our education and conservation teams taught 3rd - 5th graders, reaching 124 students. We covered important coastal marine debris topics and issues with plastic pollution in our oceans. On Saturday, September 30, we headed to Shipwreck Beach on Lānaʻi with volunteers and successfully removed 2,980 items ranging from plastic pieces to fishing nets, with a total weight of 580 pounds. Our team secured a home for our Coastal Marine Debris Monitoring Program kit stand at the local library, supplying it with 48 beach cleanup kits to be used by Lānaʻi residents.
Learn more about the PWF marine debris program.
Surfrider volunteer, Heather O'Donnell standing next to a marine debris display at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (Credit: Kathleen Viernes).
Submitted by: Heather O'Donnell Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter
2023 marks the second year Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter has collaborated with Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR). An informative display on plastic pollution was set up in the control room for World Oceans Day in June, and remains throughout October. KPNWR is one of the most visited places on Kaua‘i. Over 500,000 visitors annually arrive to view seabirds and other wildlife, a historic lighthouse and stunning vistas. Heather, a Surfrider education team volunteer, has gone in to "talk trash" 6 hours per week, explaining the myriad ways that plastic enters the ocean, how the remote islands of Hawai‘i are inundated by marine debris and the damage it causes to wildlife worldwide. Thanks to this collaboration, visitors from all over the world leave with a deeper understanding about marine debris.
Visit Kaua‘i Surfrider's website to learn about everything they're doing!
NOAA Marine Debris Program art contest announcement (Credit: Artwork by Jaemyn L., Grade 6, Pennsylvania).
Get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 can submit their artwork (electronically or by mail) now through December 15th that answers the questions:
- How does marine debris impact the oceans and Great Lakes?
- What are you doing to help prevent marine debris?
Contest winners will be featured in a 2025 calendar! Visit our website to check out last year's winners and download the contest entry form and flyer.
Miscellaneous Marine Debris (Credit: NOAA).
NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: We are pleased to announce a new funding opportunity that is open through December 18, 2023. The 2024 Ocean Odyssey Marine Debris Awards for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility, a partnership between NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is now accepting proposals. The program will award up to $75,000 for projects between $5,000-$7,500 to support communities that are underserved, underrepresented, or overburdened and promote initiatives that investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris.
To learn more visit the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's website, or visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program's blog.
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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