Surfrider Kaua‘i collects record 162,902 pounds of marine debris, rubbish in 2024

Surfrider Kaua‘i volunteers in 2024 — in partnership with Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund with grant funding from the Hawai‘i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research — collected 162,902 pounds of marine debris and trash from Kaua‘i beaches and coastlines.

The more than 81 tons of debris and rubbish cleaned up from Garden Isle shores sets a new record from 2017, when almost 120,000 pounds were collected.

“We’re very proud of our net patrol and rapid response programs record-breaking 81-plus tons of marine debris and trash collected from Kaua‘i beaches and coastlines in 2024,” said Surfrider Kaua‘i chapter co-founder Barbara Wiedner. “Marine debris — such as abandoned commercial fishing nets and lines — plus plastics pollution is the leading cause of death for marine mammals, either by entanglement or ingestion.”

Of the 162,902 pounds collected last year, 154,157 pounds were marine debris — fishing nets, lines, eel traps and other debris that kills marine life and destroys reefs.

According to the International Whaling Commission, 300,000 marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions die annually because of entanglements with ghost nets. When turtles and fish are added, the number of deaths is close to a million.

Marine debris and trash was collected through weekly net patrols, ghost net hotline response, community and hui cleanups, keiki field trip cleanups and solo cleanups by local residents as well as visitors, who learn about cleanups through social media or Surfrider Kaua‘i’s Ocean Friendly Visitors program hotel partners.

“We are grateful to our loyal local volunteers, keiki and visitors who participated in net patrols and beach cleanups to keep our waters and beaches safe for marine life and humans,” said Wiedner.

The more than 81 tons of marine debris and trash were collected:

• During 287 net patrol and beach cleanup events.
• By 5,615 volunteers (including 444 local keiki) and 6,424 man-hours.

A reason so much debris landed on Kaua‘i beaches and coastlines last year is that ocean currents pushed the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” closer to the Hawaiian Islands.

Surfrider Kaua‘i did its first net patrol in 2006 as part of an Earth Day event. Led by Barbara Wiedner, co-founder of the Surfrider Kaua‘i chapter, net patrols continued through Surfrider Kaua‘i’s Ghost Net Hotline.

When reports of nets on beaches or coastline came in, Wiedner would put together a rapid response team of volunteers to get the nets removed before tides washed them back to sea, where they could endanger marine life and reefs.

The hotline program continues to this day, still led by Wiedner.

Scott McCubbins joined Surfrider Kaua‘i in 2013 and committed to doing a weekly scheduled net patrol, which still takes place at 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday.

McCubbins’ team consists of local volunteers and visitors who want to give back to Kaua‘i and help protect its ocean, marine life and reefs.

If you see a net on a beach or coastline, contact Surfrider Kaua‘i Rapid Response Hotline at 808-635-2593. Contact Scott McCubbins at 816-781-5883 to volunteer for net patrol on Wednesdays.

Visit the Surfrider Kaua‘i website for additional information about the chapter and learn more about how to volunteer and all volunteer opportunities.