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.

Aunty Carey from NOAA hooks it up with NPN!

Aloha Everyone, 

Aunty Carey Morishige, the Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator at NOAA's Marine Debris Program took a trip recently to Midway Atoll.  While she was up there Aunty Carey went ahead and hooked NPN up with a blog about her experiences and observations there and even shared with us some of her photos.  Perhaps this will inspire some of you to become scientists, biologists, conservationists, etc. and do studies like these in the very near future.

Japan Tsunami Marine Debris at Midway Atoll 
By Carey Morishige, NOAA Marine Debris Program

 Laysan albatross on Sand Island, Midway Atoll. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

Thousands of black and white Laysan albatross bob their heads and preen their feathers under a flurry of others who have taken to the air. Once again, the opportunity of a lifetime has presented itself and I find myself at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

The inescapable nature of this place serves as a constant reminder of why I do what I do. I am the Pacific Islands Regional coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Essentially, I work on trash in the ocean. Not a glamorous job, but one with purpose—purpose that you can see on nearly every shore at Midway.

I am here for many reasons, one of which is to check for Japan tsunami marine debris. On March 11, 2011 as the devastating earthquake-generated tsunami receded from land in Japan, it washed much of what was in the inundation zone into the ocean. Heavier materials sank closer to shore while floatable items drifted out to sea, dispersing as the days and months went on. Nearly two years later, some of that debris has likely become water-logged or broken apart and sunk.  The rest remains afloat, moving around the North Pacific Ocean.

The first confirmed Japan tsunami marine debris item in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands was a small boat found on November 2, 2012. The boat was moved to higher ground to prevent it from being washed back in to the ocean. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

Marine debris is not a new problem -- not at Midway Atoll or in the State of Hawaii. Here, marine debris has been an everyday problem for decades. Debris from across the Pacific Rim, both foreign and domestic, has washed up on our shores. And, let’s not forget about the debris that comes from our own backyard. Today, it is quite difficult to tell where a piece of debris came from or when exactly it was lost. With so many international products being sold in our state, we can no longer say with certainty that a bottle with Japanese writing on it came from Japan.

There is no shortage of marine debris at Midway Atoll. Debris of all shapes, types, and sizes can be seen on shore, higher quantities in areas of accumulation.

Here on Midway, my objectives are to 1) remain on the lookout for Japan tsunami marine debris, 2) test protocols for monitoring data collection, 3) work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff on island to develop protocols for potential Japan tsunami marine debris items if/when found. So far, so good! We’ve had no potential Japan tsunami marine debris sighted so far. Stay tuned as my hunt for Japan tsunami marine debris continues on Midway Atoll!

Huge pile of derelict fishing nets and gear on Eastern Island, Midway Atoll. Photo courtesy of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.