Trashing Paradise

The far northwest Hawaiian Islands, a chain of tiny coral and sand atolls extending into the vast mid-Pacific like a string of pearls [map] is as about as far as you can get from civilization outside the poles. Many endemic Marine birds and mammals live here among some 7000 species. These specks were protected by establishing a national marine monument in 2006, the nation's largest covering 583,000 square miles. President George W. Bush was moved to create the monument after viewing Jean-Michel Cousteau's film, Voyage to Kure [atoll]. The reserve protects pelagic habitats, sea mounts, coral reefs, and lagoons. Commercial fishing in the monument is banned; several species like the spiny lobster have not yet recovered from exploitation. On two of the islands there are archeological remains of pre-European settlement and use. To native Hawaiian culture these islands are where life originates and where spirits return after death.

credit: M. Chauvin

However idyllic Papahānaumokuākea is, there is trouble in this paradise. Because of its location in the Pacific Gyre, a vast area of circular ocean currents, the islands are inundated with man-made debris ranging from micro-plastic waste to abandoned nets and fishing tackle. A team of volunteers supported by federal and state authorities recently collected and removed 47 tons of debris during a twenty-four day expedition. During their first day of clean-up team members spotted a young female monk seal tightly entangled in derelict fishing line. The line clearly irritated her as she dug at with her flipper. The crew was able to release her from the unwanted collar. Entanglement is a common hazard for marine life and there is no permanent human presence to help them. So-called 'ghost gear' is washed ashore, where it often has to be dug out of the sand. Plastic pieces smaller than 10 cm are left behind because there is so much of it. An estimated 11 tons of plastic enters the world's oceans every year where it quickly enters the marine food chain; this waste stream is expected to triple in the next twenty years. Clean up efforts like this one are barely keeping up with the waste stream. More than 2 million pounds of debris have been removed from the monument since 1996.