Addressing Marine Debris Issues on Local and Regional Scales
Why is marine debris a big concern? Marine debris affects reef health on micro- and macro-scales ranging from marine organisms consuming microplastics to coral reefs suffering structural damage from derelict fishing gear. Debris also impacts oceanic communities who are stuck trying to address the pollution brought to their doorstep and contaminating their coastal food resources. Much of this marine debris is not locally generated, but accumulates as a result of oceanic gyres.
Solid waste management is challenging on islands because it cannot be collected in one place or shipped out of sight as easily. Some governments try to create a circular economy and repurpose marine plastics by transforming them into objects or building materials that the community can use, but the practicality of these projects is challenging given the current spatial, technological, and monetary constraints.
How can we address these issues? This project synthesized the current state of marine debris pollution and solutions in the Pacific Ocean region. It laid the groundwork for a network of communication and collaboration between communities sharing challenges unique to Pacific Islands regarding marine debris. The report highlights areas of concern and success stories in Guam, Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and American Samoa.
The PICCH team held meetings in each location to get a sense of the primary concerns of each community, determine the main types of debris locally, and highlight successful projects and organizations working on them. The key goal was identifying ways each place had specialized success or knowledge about different areas of marine debris response to foster collaboration for sharing expertise across the region. The next step for the project is hosting regional meetings to bring all these related parties together and discuss steps, with this report acting as a starting tool for what solutions can be achieved moving forward.
To address some of these challenges locally, PICCH has worked with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project and the Center for Marine Debris Research at HPU.
Why is this helpful? Pacific marine debris is a massive issue of environmental equity and responsibility. Island communities are often dealing with it at the end of its life, far from whoever created it. We have synthesized the primary issues, challenges, solutions, and opportunities for partners throughout the region related to marine debris, with community co-development and feedback from natural resource managers incorporated into the report.
Jessica Glazner, a graduate student research assistant, led this project and cautions people to remember that “everything that ends up in the ocean doesn’t just disappear forever” and to be mindful about what they’re consuming and discarding, since it all has the potential to end up there.
