Marine Debris Removal Guidelines

Marine debris must be removed using a safe and controlled process. Safety is the most important factor to consider on all marine debris removal projects. The safety of every team member must not be compromised during the project. The safety of the marine environment is also the focus of the debris removal. The process of removing the debris from the marine ecosystem should be executed in a way as to cause minimum to no damage or disruption to the marine habitat being cleaned. In order to ensure the safety of the team members and the marine ecosystem the following guidelines should be followed.

  1. What Marine Debris should be removed?

Marine debris is defined by NOAA to include any man-made object discarded, disposed of, or abandoned that enters the coastal or marine environment.

Some marine debris may have marine organisms growing on it. The debate of whether to remove the debris or leave it may sometimes be a difficult judgment to make. Ultimately, this decision rests on the individual removing the debris to take it or leave it. However, here are a few things to consider.

  • Is the item truly marine debris as defined by NOAA? If yes, the debris does not belong in the marine ecosystem.
  • Is the marine debris currently threatening the health of the marine ecosystem? If yes, it must be removed to prevent harm to the marine ecosystem.
  • Will the marine debris threaten the marine ecosystem in the future if not removed? If yes, it must be removed to prevent future harm. A good example of this is a rubber tire that has some marine organisms growing on it. The future damage from the decomposing rubber and the tire bumping into coral from surge motions will have a negative effect on the marine ecosystem and the tire should be removed.
  • Are the aesthetics of the marine debris unpleasing to me as a diver?

One very important exception to these guidelines is when coral is involved.

State law prohibits the breaking or damaging, with any implement, any stony coral from the waters of Hawaii, including any reef or mushroom coral. HDAR regulation HAR 13-95-70

It is unlawful to take, break or damage, any implement, any rock or coral to which marine life of any type is visibly attached. HDAR regulation HAR 13-95-71

If there is harmful marine debris that has coral attached to it, do not remove it. Document the location and description and Mālama Na `Apapa will collaborate with the Hawaii Department of Aquatic Resources (HDAR) to determine the proper action to take in reef preservation.

  1. Safety precautions while diving and removing Marine Debris.
  • Follow all PADI and/or NAUI SCUBA safety precautions while diving.
  • All divers removing marine debris must only remove debris they are qualified to remove.
  • Minimize movement of fins to minimize sediment clouding.
  • Maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid bumping into the coral or other marine life.
  • Observe the movement of the nets in the surge as you approach.
  • When working around large nets constantly observe the movement of the net in the surge.
  • Avoid entanglement of yourself or gear in the nets and other debris.
  • Have a sharp knife available to remove any entanglements.
  • When cutting, cut in a direction away from you, your dive partner, and your gear.
  • Secure your knife when it is not being used.
  • Work with a partner and keep them in view it all times.
  • Frequently communicate with your dive partner.
  • Cancel the mission and surface if there is excessive risk to you, your dive partner, or the marine ecosystems safety.
  • If you or your dive partner reaches 500 psi both divers must begin a slow ascent and perform a 3 minute safety stop at 15 feet if required by PADI or NAUI dive safety protocol.
  1. Marine Debris Removal Procedures.
  • All divers removing marine debris must only remove debris they are qualified to remove.
  • Minimize movement of fins to minimize sediment clouding.
  • Maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid bumping into the coral.
  • Minimize direct contact with coral.
  • Be careful not to break off the coral.
  • Work with a buddy – one untangles the other coils.
  • Coil line loosely around a stick or bottle or stuff into a catch bag to avoid getting tangled.
  • Do not pull on the line. Pulling can harm the coral more.
  • When done, tie the end of the line so that it will not uncoil.
  • Cut line in sections if it is severely entangled.
  • Cut in sections to avoid further entanglement on the reef.
  • Take your time strategically cutting anchor lines.
  • For large nets cut away large loose sections first and save the parts entangled in the coral for last.
  • Be careful of hooks. Cut them off and place in a rigid container.
  1. Net Analysis.

In collaboration with NOAA’s Marine Debris source determination we will

FollowNOAA techniques to catalog net information. Our results will be reported to NOAA to add to their database to help identify sources of the Marine Debris.

  • Log location name and GPS coordinates
  • Document the type of nets, their material, eye size, size, weight, color, and wear.
  • Search for any tracking devise on net to determine if it is a Fishing Aggregating Devise.
  • If any ID tags or tracking devises are attached to the nets, they will be secured and turned into NOAA
  • Search net for any invasive species.
  • Catalogue and save for future analysis.
  • Report all data to NOAA.

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