Agency sees uptick in marine debris
Rising Marine Debris Threatens Hawaii’s Shores
Hawaii’s beautiful coastlines are facing an alarming increase in marine debris. Cleanup teams are bracing for more debris to wash ashore through 2025. The Hawaii Wildlife Fund (HWF) has been actively working to remove this debris, which poses significant risks to both wildlife and human health. The situation has become more urgent as the volume of debris, particularly net bundles, has surged in recent months.
Increased Debris on Hawaii’s Shores
In the past two decades, the Hawaii Wildlife Fund has successfully removed approximately 350 tons of marine debris from the shores of the Big Island. This debris primarily consists of net bundles and tangled ropes, which can weigh hundreds of pounds. However, since late 2023, the frequency of these net bundles washing ashore has noticeably increased. Megan Lamson, the president of HWF, noted, “We’re definitely seeing an uptick of things washing up.”
The rise in debris is linked to the shifting location of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A study conducted in June 2024 revealed a direct correlation between the patch’s movements and the amount of debris that washes up on Hawaii’s beaches. Lamson explained that as the patch drifts closer to Hawaii, the volume of debris increases significantly. “The paper showed that about 80% of the increase in debris can be attributed to the patch’s position,” she stated.
Given that the patch operates on a multi-year cycle, HWF anticipates a busy period for beach cleanup teams. The Big Island, particularly the Ka‘u region, receives about 95% of the ocean debris by weight. Lamson urged local residents to report sightings of net bundles and other debris to facilitate timely cleanups.
Community Involvement in Cleanup Efforts
Community involvement has proven essential in the fight against marine debris. This year alone, resident reports enabled HWF to recover over 3,000 pounds of net bundles from the coasts of Big Island and Maui. This effort was made possible through a partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources. A “Rapid Response” hotline has been established, allowing residents across all islands to report large debris masses for quick removal.
Lamson emphasized the importance of acting swiftly. “We need to get the bundles before a high tide comes in and they get floated back out to sea,” she said. The dangers posed by these net masses are significant. They can entangle wildlife and humans alike, leading to severe injuries or even fatalities. If left in the ocean, these materials eventually degrade into microplastics, which can be ingested by fish and, ultimately, humans.
Moreover, improper disposal methods, such as burning the net masses, can lead to environmental hazards. Lamson recounted an incident where a multi-ton net mass was set on fire, resulting in melted plastic becoming permanently stuck to the rocks. “Burning hundreds of pounds of plastic is generally not advisable for the sake of environmental health,” she cautioned.
