Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) Reaches Milestone of One Million Pounds of Debris Removed
PMDP’s chartered vessel, M/V Imua, loaded up with 175,730 pounds of marine debris in October 2024. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
Last month, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP) achieved a major milestone: the removal of 1 million pounds of marine debris from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. This debris, collected over the course of the last 4 years, is equal to the weight of 17 fully-grown humpback whales, or 550 Volkswagen Beetles, and consisted primarily of discarded fishing nets and ocean plastics. In 2024 alone, a dedicated team of 16 freedivers spent 77 days meticulously extracting 330,250 pounds of debris, setting the final stage for this “Mission to a Million” achievement.
PMDP freediver, Steffi Foxx, removes a discarded fishing net from the coral reef at Lalo. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument comprises 75% of the length of the Hawaiian archipelago, stretching for 1,200 miles beyond Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. The remote islands, atolls, and reefs of this area, surrounded by pristine waters and thriving biodiversity, clash with the reality of discarded fishing gear and plastic pollution. It is here that the PMDP team dedicates month-long missions to remove discarded fishing nets, restore coral reefs, rescue entangled marine animals, and clean up beaches.
PMDP freedivers, Sarah Milisen, Reeve Troberg, Kalaʻi Sim, Kealohi Sabate, Kaʻehukai Goin, Ossian Nichols, Kristen Kelly, and Cascade Mayer work together to lift a discarded fishing net into the boat. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
Since the late 1990ʻs, cleanup efforts in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (formerly referred to as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands prior to receiving “Monument” designation in 2006) had been led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, dwindling federal resources spurred PMDP’s founders, Kevin OʻBrien and James Morioka (then NOAA employees), to look for another mechanism to ensure this work continued. In 2020, PMDP launched as a non-profit organization committed to protecting the wildlife and habitats of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument from the threats of marine debris. By October of that year, they began spearheading large-scale removal operations. In just under four years, the organization has completed ten intensive month-long cleanups at seven uninhabited islands and atolls — Lalo, Kamokuokamohoaliʻi, Kamole, Kapou, Manawai, Kuaihelani, and Hōlanikū — steadily advancing toward their goal of removing 1 million pounds before their five year mark.
PMDP freedivers Lauren Chamberlain, Max Lee, Kauʻi Aguiar, Kalaʻi Sim, and Kristen Kelly return back to the ship, M/V Imua, with 3,000 pounds of marine debris. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
By the fall of 2024, leading into their final cleanup of the year, PMDP had cumulatively removed over 870,000 pounds, 130,000 pounds shy of the goal. However, a huge push from the cleanup team resulted in record-breaking daily removal numbers, including a single-day haul of 14,700 pounds, which accelerated them past the 1 million pound threshold.
PMDP President, Kevin O’Brien, and freediver Kaʻehukai Goin, hoist a 3,000-pound load of marine debris from the boat onto the ship, M/V Imua. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
“Mission to a Million” Statistics (2020-2024):
Total pounds removed: 1,046,457
Total coral reef area surveyed and cleaned: 10,503.3 acres
Total shoreline area surveyed and cleaned: 79.67 linear miles
Wildlife disentangled and rescued:
15 green sea turtles
3 Hawaiian monk seals
PMDPʻs James Morioka, Reeve Troberg, Sydney Luitgaarden, Charlotte Frank, Kauʻi Aguiar, Derek LeVault, Frank Freitas, Andy Sullivan-Haskins, Kiana Poki, Kalaʻi Sim, Ford Stallsmith, and Kevin O’Brien pose on top of 70,080 pounds of marine debris removed from Kuaihelani in May 2024. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
Now, with 1 million pounds under their belts, PMDP is setting their sights on the 2 million pound milestone.
The project’s success reflects the strength of strategic partnerships. The NOAA Marine Debris Program has pledged continued support for PMDP through 2026 via a $5.8 million grant to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) as part of President Biden’s Investing in America initiative. This grant is being matched by $6 million from philanthropists Marc and Lynne Benioff as part of their commitment to improving and safeguarding ocean health, bringing the total project investment to $12 million from 2022 to 2026. Additional funding comes from the NOAA Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program, the M/V Casitas Trustee Council, and the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. BIL funding from the NOAA National Sea Grant Office also supports the testing of innovative tools to enhance the efficiency in large-scale debris removal. Additional support comes from the Pahlmeyer ʻOhana, McPike-Zima Foundation, the JEM Project, the Bruce G. Geary Foundation, The Hawaiian Islands Trading Company, and numerous community donors.
PMDP’s Andy Sullivan-Haskins, Ford Stallsmith, Charlotte Frank, Jesse Moonier, Kamaliʻi Andrade, John Shizuru, Kauʻi Aguiar, Cascade Mayer, Lauren Chamberlain, Ossian Nichols, Derek LeVault, Shaun Wolfe, Steffi Foxx, Kiana Poki, Kalaʻi Sim, and Max Lee pose on top of 154,520 pounds of marine debris loaded up on chartered vessel, M/V Imua, in September 2024. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
PMDP’s million pound milestone marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight against marine debris. With continued support, cutting-edge technologies, and collaborative funding, PMDP remains committed to protecting the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
PMDP freedivers, Sydney Luitgaarden and Charlotte Frank, disentangle and rescue a Hawaiian green sea turtle from a discarded fishing net. (PMDP/A. Sullivan-Haskins)
This Giving Tuesday, double your impact by participating in PMDP’s donation match challenge. Donations made at www.pmdphawaii.org/donate through the end of December will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000, with all proceeds supporting PMDP’s three proposed large-scale cleanups scheduled for April, August, and September 2025.
Contacts:
Kevin O’Brien
President, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP)
James Morioka
Executive Director, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP)