More than 1,200 pounds of nets and other marine debris were removed last week during two separate cleanups in West Hawaii.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources divisions of Aquatic Resources and State Parks, the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, local businesses, and members of the community took part in the cleanups at Keawaiki and Puako on Aug. 12 and 13.
The first cleanup was of a derelict fishing net bundle on the beach at Keawaiki. The landowner provided access to this remote North Kona shoreline, and the net was hauled off the beach. The removal crew followed up with a sweep of the beach for any remaining net pieces and other rubbish. This material was estimated to weigh around 130 pounds.
The second cleanup was a large, cargo-type net covering a shallow reef in Puako Bay. Following an initial assessment, a full removal operation was conducted that involved five Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) employees and nine community volunteers.
DAR freedivers worked to cut the net and remove it from the reef, being careful to minimize damage to corals and live rock. Volunteers shuttled the net pieces back to shore and into a truck.
The removal team estimated that over 1,000 pounds of netting were taken off of the reef over a four-hour period.
During this operation, divers found several small coral colonies growing in and around the netting. These colonies were carefully removed and placed back onto the reef where they will hopefully continue to grow. Both nets will be taken by the Hawaii Wildlife Fund and will be saved for a partner at Hawaii Pacific University to aid in marine debris research.
Any derelict net or line bundles recovered from the shore or ocean, can be deposited in designated bins outside the DAR offices in Kona (at Honokohau) and Hilo (Wailoa Fisheries Research Station) for contribution to the NOAA Nets to Energy partnership.