Hawaii Pacific University’s Marine Waste Battle

Every day, new information about the impending global climate crisis pops up on social media and news platforms. Unfortunately, the data is rather uninspiring to many individuals. According to the Rockefeller Foundation, “58 percent of popular posts [highlight] the negative consequences of climate change,” ultimately providing limited positive public insight. However, a group of people at Hawaii Pacific University reestablished social norms instead of letting these bleak stories influence their choices.

Before everything began, though, there was a recurring problem with the various Hawaiian fishers. During their journeys out to sea, pieces of equipment and fishing materials were left in the water. This proved to be a critical problem as much of the supplies would eventually travel to join the North Pacific Garbage Patch—a 1.6 million km² accumulation zone of marine debris in the Pacific Ocean. Nonetheless, rather than resisting the source of the issue, HPU’s CMDR thought partnering directly with the cause would be better. 

Following this observation, a few years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research (HPU CMDR) initiated an extraordinary project that has since made a substantial impact on society. In 2022, the Bounty Project was founded with ideals from the previous paragraph: to prioritize fishers at the forefront of addressing climate change. With the rise in microplastics in the ocean, HPU set out to tackle the issue while also involving the community.

Through the project, eligible fishers are compensated for retrieving ocean waste, such as nets, lines, and floats. By doing this, the fishers directly eliminate the risk of excess garbage traveling to inhabited ocean areas and eventually to the North Pacific Garbage Patch. It also limits the release of greenhouse gases, a type of fossil fuel that injures the atmosphere, by lessening the number of boats moving on and off the coast. 

Another question may be: what has the initiative actually accomplished since its foundation? A few months after its establishment in 2022, the Bounty Project was recognized by top-level ocean conservation organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. This, with other funds, enabled the group to expand its outreach and resources, ultimately leading to stronger equipment and larger partnerships.

The group also reported multiple concise statistics about their achievements. In total, they partnered with 77 fishers to collect and retrieve marine waste in 2,100 volunteer hours. Additionally, it has finally collected about 185,000 pounds, or 84 metric tons, of garbage for the ocean. Lastly, they are one of three organizations to actively clean the North Pacific Garbage Patch, making their efforts even more significant. 

The Bounty Project started with a connection—a community connection. Through long hours and tireless work, the initiative has achieved its greatest goals, and it is truly an inspiration to see this marine success. As illustrated through this article, climate change does not have to be feared; it can be embraced and fought against. One step at a time, change can happen; it only needs the right goals and mindset to do so.