Marine Debris in Papahānaumokuākea: A Shift in Thinking

November 18, 2021

Kevin O'Brien, President/Founder, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project, Hawaiʻi

How do you remove over 300,000 pounds of marine debris in one year? Join us as Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project President/Founder Kevin OʻBrien shares about the three large-scale debris removal efforts in Papahānaumokuākea over the last year that shifted the way we think about solving the problem of marine debris in the Monument. He will discuss public/private partnerships, grassroots community-building, and prioritizing Monument access to a diverse range of stakeholders as a solution for Monument stewardship. Marine debris is one of the top threats to the habitats and wildlife of Paphānaumokuākea with an estimated 52+ tons of debris entering Monument waters every year.

This presentation is part of the Third Thursday By the Bay Presentation Series at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, which is the visitor center for Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. This State of the Monument lecture series is also supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.