$1 from every bag sold will be donated to The Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP)
Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM) is a pristine, yet delicate ecosystem that provides a home to more than 7,000 species of wildlife, including threatened green sea turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, false killer whales and 14 million seabirds of 22 species. More than 140 ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites exist here as well, evidence of Papahānaumokuākea’s central role in many Hawaiian cosmological, ancestral and creation narratives.
Papahānaumokuākea serves as a sprawling convergence of climate, conservation and culture, making it one of the most biologically and socially significant places on the planet. For the people of Hawaiʻi, this stunning and exceptional landscape is right in our backyard, and part of our very own chain of islands.
Despite being the most remote and isolated island archipelago in the world, every year an estimated 115,000 lbs of derelict fishing gear (“ghost nets”) accumulate on the coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea, and its otherwise pristine beaches are choked with thousands of pounds of plastic pollution sourced from around the Pacific Rim.
Marine debris poses numerous threats to our beloved Papahānaumokuākea:
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Derelict fishing nets cause large-scale damage to coral reefs as they wash in from the open ocean, snagging and breaking apart living coral colonies as they tumble across the reef.
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14 million seabirds of 22 species reside in Papahānaumokuākea. Many of these birds mistake plastic rubbish for food and feed it to their chicks.
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The endangered Hawaiian monk seal (only 1400 remaining) and threatened green sea turtle are commonly entangled in derelict fishing nets, and can drown or starve to death as a result
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An estimated 950,000 lbs. backlog of accumulated fishing nets exists in Papahānaumokuākea
PMDP'S Work
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Execution of annual large-scale marine debris removal missions to Papahānaumokuākea to remove derelict fishing nets and plastics from the reefs and shorelines
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Raising awareness of the issue of marine debris and inspiring change through education and outreach
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Engaging the greater Hawaii community in the stewardship and care of Papahānaumokuākea
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Working for creative solutions for recycling and re-utilization of the waste-stream
All text and images from www.pmdphawaii.org