Marine Debris
- Hawaii's program was selected as a semifinalist for the 2006 "Innovations in American Government Award" presented by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. See the press release.
- A Cost Comparison of Various Methods of Retrieving Derelict Fishing Gear"
Paper published in the 2005 PACON (Pacific Congress on Marine Science and Technology) Proceedings (PDF file; 59 kb)
The literature is reviewed to reflect the vastness of the marine debris problem and demonstrate that there are very few hard numbers published to quantify the problem or the cost of potential solutions.
The paper suggests an incentive price for retrieved ghost net and proposes that the cost of ghost net disposal can be reduced by providing facilities on ports for recycling companies to pick up other fishing boat detritus such as used oil and metal. The paper is intended to serve as a base for scientists and fishing organizations to build on the hypothesis and offer refinements to the proposed solution.
- " FROM POLLUTION TO POWER: TRANSFORMING MARINE DEBRIS TO ENERGY "
2004 presentation to the Council of State Governments - West; Annual Meeting; Anchorage, Alaska (PDF file; 1,772 kb)
Presentation includes pictures of derelict fishing gear; harvested netting; transportation to recycling baseyard; specialized cutting equipment; transformation into fuel; and production of a TV documentary.
- " Pollution Prevention Produces Power"
Description of Hawaii’s Innovative Program. (11-page PDF file; 57 kb)
Detailed description of the program, participants, setbacks, and achievements.
- National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
National Marine Debris Program. (link to NOAA website)