Beach Cleaning Machines
We’re investigating the effects of beach cleaning machines in Hawaiʻi. We talk to regional and national marine debris expert, Dr. Mary Donohue, about the sources and solutions to marine debris. We take a ride on a beach cleaning machine with David Francisco. And, we talk with Nate Serota, from Honolulu Parks and Recreation, about the tools, and volunteers, that help clean our local beaches.
We talk with coastal land use specialist, Ruby Pap, to learn about research to study the effects of machine cleaning the beach. Then, we visit Dr. Rob Toonen’s lab at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), where Katherine Viehl and Van Wishingrad explain how cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) technology is being used to identify beach organisms that are hidden, elusive, or too small to see.
Watch the trailer for Season 10, Episode 2 on Vimeo, on YouTube, or on Vimeo with English Subtitles.
Watch the related episode: Marine Debris.
Full Episode
Curriculum Connections:
- Grade 5: Marine Debris
- Activity: DIY Beeswax Wraps
- Further Investigations: Recycled Art
- Grades 6-12: Beaches and Sand
- Activity: Observing Sand
- Activity: Beach Sand Survey
- Further Investigations: Beaches and Sand
- Weird Science: Marine Debris and Oceanic Gyres
- Grades 6-12: Climate Connection: Global Conveyor Belt
- Hanauma Bay Education Program: Build Your Own Microplastics Cleanup Tool
- North American Marine Environment Protection Association: Educator’s PDF Guide to marine Debris
- NOAA: Marine Debris PDF Toolkit for Educators
- Debris Tracker: An open data citizen scientist movement
Additional Resources:
- National Academies 2022 Report
- Marine Debris Research and Recommendations
- United Nations Global Cooperation to Reduce Marine Litter
- Marine Debris: Understanding, Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
- U.S. Department of the Interior: Marine Debris Impacts
- Tracking Marine Litter With a Global Ocean Model: Where Does It Go? Where Does It Come From?
- Statista: Majority Supports Global Rules to End Plastic Pollution
- NOAA Marine Debris Program
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Report large marine debris in Hawaiʻi
- Online report form
- Call 833-4-DA-NETS (833-432-6387), and e-mail photos to DLNR.marine.debris@hawaii.gov and disasterdebris@noaa.gov.
- Organisms in the Sand
- USGS: Through the Sandglass: Let’s hear it for meiofauna!
- Hakai Magazine: The Micro Monsters Beneath Your Beach Blanket
- MoeVarua: Small Life in the Sand of Rapa Nui
- Florida State University News: Miniature organisms in the sand play big role in our oceans
- Ghost Crabs
- Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
- Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation
- County of Kauaʻi
- Papāhanaumokuākea Marine National Monument
- Get Involved in Cleaning Up Marine Debris in Hawaiʻi!
- Surfrider Hawaiʻi region: Kona, Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi
- Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
- 808 Cleanups
- Parley Hawaiʻi
- Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
- Ocean Defenders Alliance
- One Ocean Hawaiʻi
- Keep Puako Beautiful (Hawaiʻi Island)
- Hoʻomalu Ke Kai (Kauaʻi)
- Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park (Cleanup every Saturday, Kauaʻi)
Select a season of Voice of the Sea
Contact information:
Kanesa Seraphin, Ph.D.
kanesa@hawaii.edu
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