Beach Cleanup October 24th 2024
Nestled in the heart of the Pacific, Midway Atoll, or Kuaihelani, is more than just a pristine atoll; it’s a vital marine and wildlife refuge, home to countless seabirds, endangered monk seals, green sea turtles, and vibrant coral reefs. This protected area serves as a sanctuary for fragile ecosystems and species that depend on clean, plastic-free waters to thrive. But even in this remote paradise, the rising tide of plastic pollution reminds us that no place on Earth is untouched.
On a rainy October Thursday, two Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) staff members and five dedicated volunteers headed out to an infamous marine debris hotspot on Kuaihelani, nicknamed The Armpit. This spot is a magnet for trash due to ocean currents that funnel all kinds of debris to this unfortunate nook. The main offenders? Fishing industry cast-offs like buoys, floats, fish nets, plastic baskets, eel traps, and tubing. But that was just the beginning—jugs, fuel containers, tires, lighters, bits of fabric, plastic foam, and even those insidious micro-plastics had piled up. The tiny plastic bits were so embedded in the rocks that we had to use shovels to sift through them, fishing plastic right out from between the stones.
Nets had woven themselves into roots and around an old concrete staircase leading down to this tangled mess. Some of us jumped in the water, cutting apart nets snagged on anything they could cling to, while others intercepted the waves as they delivered fresh flotsam, just in case we needed a reminder of what we were up against. Beyond being a visual eyesore, the debris posed real dangers—tangles for sea turtles, monk seals, and seabirds unlucky enough to encounter the mess.
After hours of hard work, we started to see patches of rocks and sand emerging beneath the trash. Then, an unexpected guest arrived: a Nunulu (Bonin Petrel) waddled out from its burrow, probably wondering what all the fuss was about. We took extra care to clean around the petrel’s burrow, making sure this little neighbor had a clear path back to its home turf.
One by one, buckets filled up, larger junk was heaved into trailers and carts, and after four back-and-forth trips, we managed to haul most of the trash to a holding site for disposal. By the time we finished, the rain had let up, the sun broke through, and the rocky shoreline finally looked like itself again.
Nets had woven themselves into roots and around an old concrete staircase leading down to this tangled mess. Some of us jumped in the water, cutting apart nets snagged on anything they could cling to, while others intercepted the waves as they delivered fresh flotsam, just in case we needed a reminder of what we were up against. Beyond being a visual eyesore, the debris posed real dangers—tangles for sea turtles, monk seals, and seabirds unlucky enough to encounter the mess.
Piles of nets, buoys, and buckets of micro-plastics quickly fill this trailer, as the drivers try to keep up with the pace of the staggering amount of trash being brought out of the collection point.
The FWS clean-up crew gathered for a triumphant group photo in front of the freshly cleaned site, relishing our hard-won victory. But we know this is just one small skirmish in an ongoing battle. Debris will keep finding its way back unless we address these issues at the source. Until then, The Armpit—and every other stretch of coastline on Kuaihelani—will need our vigilance.
Everyday folks may feel far removed from the fishing industry, but we all play a role in reducing the impact of fishing-related debris on our oceans. For starters, choosing sustainable seafood options—those caught with practices that minimize waste and bycatch—supports fisheries that prioritize ocean health. Apps and guides like Seafood Watch can make this easy.
Beach cleanups are another way to pitch in, even if you’re nowhere near a fishing boat. Plastics from land often end up in the sea and get tangled in nets or gear, so clearing them helps prevent dangerous interactions. You can also support nonprofits that work with fisheries to reduce lost gear, while advocating for better policies to track and retrieve abandoned equipment.
