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NOAA Removes 57 Tons of Marine Debris from Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

The NOAA Marine Debris Program funded the 33-day Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine debris removal mission.


17 NOAA divers and additional crew members, including the program's Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator Kyle Koyanagi and Communications Lead, Dianna Parker, sailing aboard NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette have returned from the mission at lPapahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, a World Heritage Site and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world.
In total, they removed approximately 57 tons of derelict fishing nets and plastic litter from the monument’s tiny islands and atolls, sensitive coral reefs and shallow waters. NOAA has led this mission every year since 1996, removing a total of 904 tons of marine debris, including this year’s haul. Follow the journey of the mission by visiting the NOAA Marine Debris Program's website.

For more information contact Dianna.Parker@noaa.gov or Kyle.Koyanagi@noaa.gov.

Go back to OR&R Weekly Report.

Diver underwater with net.
NOAA divers find the large derelict fishing gear net that was report last September at Pearl and Hermes. Scuba and free divers removed a piece of derelict fishing gear that was more than 28 feet long, 7 feet wide, and had a dense curtain that extended 16 feet deep. The large net weighed 11.5 tons. (NOAA)
Last updated Tuesday, November 8, 2022 1:49pm PST