Completion of Five-Year Cleanup by Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project has successfully completed its latest cleanup initiative, having returned to Honolulu on October 8. This marks the conclusion of their five-year “Catch Up and Keep Up” program, which has led to the removal of over 1.3 million pounds of nets and plastics from delicate reef ecosystems.

Initiated in 2022, the project aimed to tackle a longstanding backlog of marine debris while also addressing new debris generated each year. In 2026 alone, teams undertook three sea expeditions lasting a total of 65 days, extracting over 147,000 pounds of debris, including significant quantities of derelict nets and shoreline plastics. Additionally, during this final expedition, five green sea turtles were rescued from entanglements. With this initiative concluded, the project is now exploring new funding and partnership opportunities to support ongoing debris removal efforts, as well as offering paid positions starting January 2027.