1-page Handouts | Highlighted Projects
The MDP has headquarters in Silver Spring, MD and has regional staff members positioned around the country to support regional coordination efforts, track progress of projects, review performance measures, and conduct regional marine debris outreach to local audiences. The Program has two dedicated staff in Hawai'i.
This region includes the following states and territories:
- Hawai‘i
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
1-page Handouts
Download a double-sided 1-page overview of the NOAA Marine Debris Program in the Pacific Islands region (
208kb).
Download a double-sided 1-page overview of the NOAA Marine Debris Program in Hawaii ( 216kb).
Highlighted Projects
*Learn more about marine debris projects in the Pacific Islands region and across the US.
- Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan
- Fifth International Marine Debris Conference
- Economic Impacts to Hawaii's Longliners
- Hawai'i Nets-to-Energy Program
- American Samoa Post-Tsunami Cleanup
- Establishing an Island Culture of Recycling in Saipan
- Guam Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Campaign
- Chiefs Approach to Palau’s Marine Debris Reduction
Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan
In January 2010, Hawai'i marine debris partners rolled out the Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan (HI-MDAP) – the first of its kind in the nation! The HI-MDAP is a comprehensive statewide action plan incorporating a results-oriented framework. This results framework focuses on both reducing ecosystem threats and encouraging adaptive management through measurement of intermediate results. Four strategic areas have been outlined: Introduction of Solid Waste and Fishing Gear at Sea and Coastal Areas Decreased, Land-based Debris in Waterways Reduced, Number of Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Decreased, and Backlog of Marine Debris Reduced.
For more information visit this project's web page.
Fifth International Marine Debris Conference
Marine debris and its impacts reach far beyond Hawaii's shores. Marine debris a global problem and its solution will rely on the participation of people and countries around the world. In March 2011, Hawai'i was host to the Fifth International Marine Debris Conference. With the theme "Waves of Change: Global lessons to inspire local action," the conference brought together 440 participants representing 38 countries. Conference participants refined and endorsed by acclamation the Honolulu Commitment, which outlines 12 actions to reduce marine debris. Participants and a group of rapporteurs also worked to revise the Honolulu Strategy, a strategic framework to prevent, reduce, and manage marine debris. Through this conference, the Honolulu Commitment, and the Honolulu Strategy, the global marine debris community is making strides in addressing marine debris at a variety of geographic scales.
For more information visit this project's web page.
Economic Impacts to Hawaii's Longliners
In 2007, a partnership project began in Hawai'i between various NOAA offices to study and quantify rates of interaction with and the subsequent economic impact of marine debris within Hawaii's longline fishery. This is being achieved through analysis of data collected in cooperation with the NOAA Observer Program via a new comprehensive Marine Debris Encounter Report. In the North Pacific Ocean, derelict fishing gear (mainly lost or discarded nets) is often found drifting within heavily fished areas. Derelict fishing gear (DFG) impacts the longline fishery through active gear entanglement, vessel interactions, and catch interaction. The debris poses both a safety hazard for crew to disentangle the vessel, imposes an economic impact through immobilized or slowed fishing operations, and may induce behavioral responses within the fishery. The main objectives of this partnership project are to gain a better understanding of the overall impacts of DFG and to quantify the economic impact of marine debris to the Hawai'i-based longline fishing industry.
For more information visit this project's web page.
Hawai'i Nets-to-Energy Program
Marine debris of all types and from numerous sources accumulates in and around the islands of Hawai'i due to oceanic currents and winds in the North Pacific. Much of the debris is made up of fishing nets, a type of gear not used by Hawaii's fisheries, that have been lost, abandoned, or discarded. Fishermen, communities, and trained divers remove these derelict nets from the environment. Instead of adding the nets to already congested landfills, in 2002, Hawaii's multi-partner marine debris group devised a unique program to use this marine debris to create usable electricity. The Hawai'i Nets-To-Energy program is possible only through the partnership and support of Hawaii's multi-organizational marine debris group. Since 2002, over 800 tons of derelict nets have been used to create electricity—enough to power nearly 350 Hawai'i homes for a year each!
For more information visit this project's web page.
American Samoa Post-Tsunami Cleanup
The September 2009 earthquake and tsunami that struck American Samoa caused flooding, damage, and over 30 fatalities. The receding waves pulled tires, roofing material, fabric, and household goods out to sea, where a significant amount sank in shallow coral reef environments in the nearshore. This project has two goals: a short-term goal to remove the tsunami-generated debris from the marine environment around Tutuila Island, American Samoa, using local surveyors and marine salvage contractors and a longer-term goal to reduce the accumulation of trash and potential future impacts from marine debris in the coastal zone. The latter will be accomplished by creating a “Pollution Prevention Squad,” which will organize community cleanups and undertake community education and outreach activities. The project anticipates removing about 6 tons of marine debris. Community cleanups are expected to pick up an estimated 15 tons of trash from the coastal environment. This project is funded through the Community-based Marine Debris Removal grant program and carried out by the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.
For more information visit this project's web page.
Establishing an Island Culture of Recycling in Saipan
The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) created and placed a total of 17 recycling and mixed waste bins for public use and provided trash collection services at popular beach and tourist sites in order to help prevent marine debris. Bins were installed in March 2010 and weekly trash collection began, with support provide by bin “adopters.” In one year, the project has prevented close to 15 tons of trash from becoming marine debris, 43% of which was recycled. In addition, cleanups have removed nearly seven tons of marine debris from eight beach sites. Public service announcements demonstrated how littering on land affects ocean and marine life. The project is also launching a “No Need Bag” campaign to encourage people to shop with reusable bags. This project is funded through the Community-based Marine Debris Removal grant program.
Guam Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Campaign
Cleanup Crew is a group of volunteers dedicated to cleaning up Guam’s beaches, rivers, and reefs and to raising awareness of marine debris and its effects. To date, the Cleanup Crew has removed over 20 tons of debris. Of that, 58% was recycled. Volunteer numbers have increased to over 600 participants, contributing over 3,000 hours. A public service announcement (PSA) was created to raise awareness about marine debris and its local impact. The PSA is airing at movie theaters and is available for viewing via various social media applications including YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRL3JeXGf6Q. This project is carried out by the MDA Dive Shop with funding from the Community-based Marine Debris Removal grant program.
Chiefs Approach to Palau’s Marine Debris Reduction
The Palauan Chiefs project, which concluded in 2008, addressed marine debris through a comprehensive, coordinated, republic-wide project. Eleven workshops on marine debris were held, reaching two-thirds of the community. A post-test revealed that 85% of participants increased their knowledge of ways they can prevent and reduce marine debris and where to report marine pollution violations. Of the 16 States targeted, 14 completed cleanups. Dive shops, hotels, resorts, local tour operators, and community members donated a total of 4,298 volunteer hours and removed over 23 tons of debris.
The project also hosted 16 workshops to teach fishermen traditional methods and gear that do not create marine debris. An estimated 7% of fishermen were using indigenous gear after the workshops, and four sites were designated for indigenous fishing techniques. Community meetings were held in all 16 states, with five monofilament recycling centers established at marinas. As of the completion of the project, 850 lbs of monofilament were gathered.
