Aunty Carey from NOAA blogs again!

How awesome is this?!,

Aunty Cary Morishige submitted another post for our blog, and you really gotta take the time to read what she says, it's pretty interesting stuff!

On the Hunt: Marine debris at Midway Atoll
By Carey Morishige, NOAA Marine Debris Program

One of the areas we visited today is the southwest corner of the Inner Harbor on Sand Island, Midway Atoll (the largest and main island in the atoll). This area appears to be one of the accumulation points for marine debris on the island.

Marine debris at the southwest corner of the Inner Harbor on East Island, Midway Atoll. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

I surveyed the debris, on the lookout for anything that could potentially be Japan tsunami marine debris. I did not see anything too out of the ordinary, except maybe the large piece of weathered polystyrene (photo above; big mustard colored chunk). Though a bit unusual, its source cannot be determined without identifiable markings.

Along with this, I am assisting the State of Hawaii Department of Health in monitoring marine debris for radiation. Levels higher than background levels on marine debris are HIGHLY UNLIKELY (for more information visit http://hawaii.gov/health/radiation/index.html). However, out an abundance of caution, marine debris across the state has been monitored for radiation levels since April 2011 by the State Dept. of Health. Nothing above normal levels has been found. Results have been the same here on Midway.

While doing all of this, my colleague, Scott Godwin (Resource protection specialist with the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument) was on a hunt of his own—for nearshore invertebrate alien species, such as tunicates, crabs, and tubeworms.

An alien tunicate (Herdmania pallida) found nearshore. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

To assist Scott in his alien species hunt, I fashioned for him a floating “specimen bin” by deftly recycling found marine debris (Styrofoam, basket, and nylon rope). Our contraption worked so well, we’re keeping it for use the rest of the week.

Scott Godwin looking for alien species near the southwest corner of the Inner Harbor, using a floating “specimen bin” made of recycled marine debris. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

Floating marine debris is an excellent raft for alien species and can transport them far away from its origin. Marine debris can therefore introduce new alien species to an area. This could be an added negative impact to the marine ecosystem in a sensitive place like the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. ,.

For Japan tsunami marine debris, items of particular interest are those that originated in the nearshore areas of Japan, such as a boat or floating pier. These items were in nearshore waters long enough to have accumulated communities of marine organisms native to Japan. These organisms would be alien species, some potentially invasive, in our islands. Floating debris can also serve as a raft for pelagic (open ocean) species, such as the gooseneck barnacle. This species, and other common pelagic species, are not of great concern here in Hawaii, as they would not survive in our nearshore areas (and thus not likely to become invasive). For more information on alien species on Japan tsunami marine debris, please visit http://anstaskforce.gov/Tsunami.html.

A common pelagic gooseneck barnacle on a buoy found on East Island, Midway Atoll. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.