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Marine Debris Survey and Removal Efforts in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from 1999 to 2021

Published by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Catalog Last Checked: August 02, 2026 at 11:18 PM | Dataset Last Updated: January 01, 2019 at 12:00 AM
The marine debris data included in this dataset are from annual in-water surveys conducted from 1999 to 2021 at the reefs, atolls and islands in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) with funding from Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM), and NOAA's Marine Debris (MDP) and Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration (DARRP) Programs. These surveys and removal efforts of marine debris were conducted primarily during ship-based missions to the NWHI, and also as fly-in missions. During a mission, surveys were conducted by divers based on small boats launched either from a ship or from the shore. Two survey methods were used to search for marine debris; tow and swim surveys. Tow surveys were used in the relatively even-depth (usually less than 10 meters deep), contiguous backreef habitats, typically at Midway Atoll, Kure Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Two free-divers were towed behind a small boat to search for debris throughout the water column. Swim surveys were used primarily in the comparatively high-relief and patchy lagoonal reef habitats of Maro Reef and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. During swim surveys, two or more snorkelers swam across the reefs to search for debris while being directed by the small boats to follow pre-planned routes. Survey areas and routes were chosen based on regional reef morphology and past debris accumulation records. During a survey, if debris larger than 0.012 cubic meters (size of a small toolbox) was encountered, descriptive information about the debris and its location (i.e., type, color, size, biofouling, estimated depth, substrate composition/color) were recorded and a GPS waypoint was taken. Debris was removed if determined to be safe to do so and without causing damage to the surrounding coral reef habitat. Once removed, the volume of removed debris was estimated and recorded. At the end of the survey or if the small boat reached its capacity, the boat returned to the ship or to the shore and the boats debris load was weighed and recorded. Up to 4 small boats in one day concurrently conducted surveys during a mission.

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1014 1224 20497 Marine Debris Survey & Removal from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) Marine Debris Survey and Removal from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI): Maintenance Mode Marine debris removal and assessment of debris accumulation rates in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Marine debris removal from NWHI Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Debris Removal, Research, and Outreach

Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel non-public
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "Garriques, Joao D",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:joao.garriques@noaa.gov"
}
describedByType application/octet-steam
description The marine debris data included in this dataset are from annual in-water surveys conducted from 1999 to 2021 at the reefs, atolls and islands in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) by the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) with funding from Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM), and NOAA's Marine Debris (MDP) and Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration (DARRP) Programs. These surveys and removal efforts of marine debris were conducted primarily during ship-based missions to the NWHI, and also as fly-in missions. During a mission, surveys were conducted by divers based on small boats launched either from a ship or from the shore. Two survey methods were used to search for marine debris; tow and swim surveys. Tow surveys were used in the relatively even-depth (usually less than 10 meters deep), contiguous backreef habitats, typically at Midway Atoll, Kure Atoll and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. Two free-divers were towed behind a small boat to search for debris throughout the water column. Swim surveys were used primarily in the comparatively high-relief and patchy lagoonal reef habitats of Maro Reef and Pearl and Hermes Atoll. During swim surveys, two or more snorkelers swam across the reefs to search for debris while being directed by the small boats to follow pre-planned routes. Survey areas and routes were chosen based on regional reef morphology and past debris accumulation records. During a survey, if debris larger than 0.012 cubic meters (size of a small toolbox) was encountered, descriptive information about the debris and its location (i.e., type, color, size, biofouling, estimated depth, substrate composition/color) were recorded and a GPS waypoint was taken. Debris was removed if determined to be safe to do so and without causing damage to the surrounding coral reef habitat. Once removed, the volume of removed debris was estimated and recorded. At the end of the survey or if the small boat reached its capacity, the boat returned to the ship or to the shore and the boats debris load was weighed and recorded. Up to 4 small boats in one day concurrently conducted surveys during a mission.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "ESD_MARINE_Debris_1999-2021.csv",
    "accessURL": "https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0190879",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Data from marine debris surveys and removal efforts in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from 1999 - 2021.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page",
    "accessURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2026. GCMD Keywords, Version 24. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Full Metadata Record",
    "accessURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25089",
    "mediaType": "text/html",
    "description": "View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.",
    "describedByType": "application/octet-stream"
  }
]
identifier https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/nmfs/pifsc/iso/xml/25089.xml
issued 2019-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
[
  "1014",
  "1224",
  "20497",
  "Marine Debris Survey & Removal from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI)",
  "Marine Debris Survey and Removal from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI): Maintenance Mode",
  "Marine debris removal and assessment of debris accumulation rates in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument",
  "Marine debris removal from NWHI",
  "Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Debris Removal, Research, and Outreach",
  "Geographic Information > Marine Debris",
  "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Damage Assessment > Marine Debris",
  "DEBRIS",
  "AMERICAN ISLANDER",
  "KUKUI",
  "OSCAR ELTON SETTE",
  "TOWNSEND CROMWELL",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Laysan Island (25N171W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Maro Reef (25N170W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000)",
  "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Laysan Island (25N171W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Maro Reef (25N170W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001)",
  "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001)",
  "North Pacific Ocean",
  "Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument",
  "CRED",
  "CREP",
  "Coral Reef Ecosystem Division",
  "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program",
  "Derelict Fishing Gear",
  "Ecosystem",
  "F/V Ocean Fury",
  "M/V Casitas",
  "Marine Debris",
  "NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)",
  "PIFSC",
  "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center",
  "R/V Freebird",
  "R/V Katmai",
  "USCG Walnut",
  "NWHI",
  "Northwestern Hawaiian Islands",
  "DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "Marine Debris"
]
landingPage https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25089
language 
[]
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2019-01-01T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
{
  "name": "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
rights otherRestrictions, unclassified
spatial -173.9573333,26.0539,-175.831567,27.937667
temporal 1999-10-06T00:00:00+00:00/1999-11-04T00:00:00+00:00
theme 
[
  "geospatial"
]
title Marine Debris Survey and Removal Efforts in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from 1999 to 2021

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