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Ghost Net Survey Completed
April 5, 2005
Contact: Jim Churnside
ETL scientists, collaborating with Airborne Technologies, Inc. and
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), just finished a survey of
marine debris in the subtropical convergence zone in the north Pacific.
Using data from several satellites, the convergence was tracked through
the winter by the NOAA Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS)
and NMFS scientists. This information was combined
with current satellite data to determine the most likely areas to find
aggregations of debris. One of the NOAA P3 aircraft was directed to these
areas in a series of three flights (March 27th and 29th and April 3rd) out
of Honolulu to determine if there was debris in these areas. Visual
observations and an electronic imaging system with automated pattern
recognition were both used on the flights.
The flights confirm that these convergence regions contain high densities
of marine debris, including many ghost nets. About two thousand individual
pieces of debris were seen. These included at least 100 that were identified
as nets or pieces of net. One of these was 200-300 m of drift net with
floats intact. A number were balls of net up to 10 m across. The data
collected are being analyzed to estimate densities and to determine what
satellite data are most effective in predicting the locations of the
highest densities.
Based on the success of these flights, planning is underway to develop a
cost-effective removal effort. These plans include transition from manned
flights to unmanned aerial vehicles using improved pattern recognition.
A pilot project for at-sea removal could begin as early as next year.
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