Marine debris pollution, especially abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) threatens Hawaiian ecosystems daily - entangling marine life, damaging fragile coral reefs and posing navigational hazards for vessels. It is a transboundary issue and one that requires international collaboration to help prevent fishing gear from ever becoming ALDFG.
At CMDR we are actively working to research the origin of debris that washes up daily along our shorelines and have found that the vast majority stems from foreign fisheries. In light of this, we are focused on engaging in collaborative dialogue with organizations and fisheries across the Pacific Rim to address this global issue.
Together we CAN help TURN OFF THE TAP ON ABANDONED, LOST, or discarded fishing gear.
First Marine Debris Partnership Forum
As a concrete first step in initiating international dialogue, CMDR is hosting the first Marine Debris Partnership Forum this summer.
This event is a positive step toward preventing the largest source of marine debris in Hawai'i - East Asian fishing gear. We will be hosting dignitaries and scientists from Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration with whom we will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in marine conservation, information exchange, capacity building, and marine debris solutions throughout the Pacific region.
August 6, 2026
Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research
1 Aloha Tower Dr., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Aloha Tower Marketplace Multi-Purpose Room 3
Agenda
10:30-11:30 - Facilitated meet & greet
11:30-1:00 - Signing Ceremony (press invited)
- Welcome and overview of the Memorandum of Understanding - Dr. John Gotanda, HPU President
- Magnitude and sources of marine debris in Hawai'i and celebration of international collaboration with Taiwan - Dr. Jennifer Lynch, HPU CMDR Director
- Taiwan's Marine Environmental Action Plans and the Importance of Signing thia MOU with Hawai'i - Dr. Shiau-Yun Lu, Director-General, Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council
- Signing of MOU
1:30-4:30 - Workshop to co-design strategies to accelerate removal, responsibly recycle, and most importantly prevent derelict fishing gear
- Keynote Speaker - Taiwan OCA
- Nikolai Maximenko - Transport of East Asian debris to Hawai'i
- Eric Kingma - Navigational, Safety, and Economic damages of ALDFG to Hawaiian Longline Fleet
- Sarah-Jeanne Royer - Sources of debris removed from the North Pacific Garbage Patch
- Jennifer Lynch - Sources of debris removed from Hawai'i
- Carl Berg - Sources of eel trap debris in Hawai'i
- Mafalda de Freitas - Recycling trials of marine debris in Hawai'i
More speakers TBC
BREAK
- Panel Discussion
BREAK
- Group discussion to co-create a list of actionable strategies to accelerate removal, sourcing, prevention, and recycling of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean.
CLOSING
RESULTS
The results of our International Marine Debris Workshop will be posted here.
Stay tuned!