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86.1K pounds of marine debris removed from Papahanaumokuakea

The Hawaii-based nonprofit organization Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project returned to Honolulu on Wednesday, Aug. 2, with 86,100 pounds of marine debris from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

By Courtesy Andrew Sullivan-Haskins and James Morioka

Aug. 3, 2023

Hawaii Photos

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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Crews remove ghost nets found along the shorelines of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Marine debris technician Kamole walks up to 10 miles per day carrying heavy loads in hot and humid conditions.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Kamole’s shoreline is home to one of the largest populations of kaʻupu, also known as black-footed albatross. The kaʻupu nest habitat on the sandy coastlines of Papahanaumokuakea is often inundated by marine pollution.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

The island of Kamole, also known as Laysan island, is home to one of the largest populations of critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals in the world.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Lead marine debris technician Ossian Nichols removes a large pile of ghost net from the shoreline of Kamole, also known as Laysan Island.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Large container spills can cause marine debris pollution in protected areas like Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. In early 2020, thousands of new items began washing ashore on many of the Northwestern Hawaiian islands. An albatross picks up a Croc sandal.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Crews removed 16,820 pounds of marine debris from the coastal shoreline of Kamole, also know as Laysan island.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Some areas of Papahanaumokuakea pose unique challenges. On Kapou, also known as Lisianski island, nets are often tangled in the exposed roots, trunks, and branches of the heliotrope treesalong the shoreline.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

The iwa (great frigate bird) is seen collecting pieces of plastic and rope from the beaches of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

In 2023, crews removed 12,040 pounds of marine debris from the coastal habitats of Kapou, also known as Lisianski island.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Marine debris technician Kiana Poki carries a load of ghost net at Kamole, also known as Laysan island.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Inflatable boats access the shallow and remote coastlines at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Crews spend a lot of time underwater to cut the net into manageable or liftable pieces. Crews can typically come across nets underwater weighing in at over 2,000 pounds.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Lead marine debris technician Namele Naipo-Arsiga and her team returns after a long day of diving for ghost nets.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Four small boats each with teams of four divers are deployed. A typical day's haul ranges between 2,000 pounds and 4,000 pounds of ghost nets.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

During the first 30-day mission of 2023, crews removed over 86,000 pounds of marine debris from Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

During the first 30-day mission of 2023, crews removed over 86,000 pounds of marine debris from Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

After being cut off the reef, crews haul the larger nets onto the small boats which can often take 4-8 people up to an hour.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

All crane operations are performed by the crew of the charter vessel who play an integral role in the mission's success.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Crews remove ghost nets from the shoreline of Kamole, also known as Laysan island.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Crews work above and below the water at Kamokuokamohoalii or Maro reef to remove a large ghost net.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

During nine days of diving at Kamokuokamohoalii, crews removed 57,240 pounds of ghost nets from the reef.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Lead marine debris technician Lauren Chamberlain works to remove a large net from the reef at Kamokuokamohoalii, also known as Maro reef, during the final day of the mission.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

A diver removes nets from the reefsof Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

A diver surveys some of the most remote reefs on the planet during a 30-day mission.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Kamokuokamohoalii is a shallow reef system spanning nearly a half-million acres.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Divers cut the net into pieces that can be hauled in by hand. A net this size may weigh a few thousand pounds.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

For nets found at depths of 20 or more feet, divers will tie off to the net using special pulling lines that can be handed up to the crew aboard the small boats.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Over the past year, crews have removed over 140,000 pounds of ghost net from Kamokuokamohoalii, also known as Maro reef.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Divers retrieve ghost nets from Kamokuokamohoalii, also known as Maro reef.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

Marine debris technician Ford Stallsmith resurfaces after working on a net at Kamokuokamohoalii.
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JAMES MORIOKA

Kamokuokamohoalii is a largely submerged open atoll estimated to be 19.7 million years old.
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JAMES MORIOKA

Diver Sydney Luitgaarden dives above a large ghost net at Kamokuokamohoalii.
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ANDREW SULLIVAN-HASKINS

The 2023 field team at Kamokuokamohoalii.
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