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.

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. 

Register your attendance

August 6, 2026 

Hawai'i Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research 

1 Aloha Tower Dr., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 

Aloha Tower Marketplace Multi-Purpose Room 3 

Guiding Question: What collaborative actions could Hawaiʻi and Taiwan explore to accelerate the adoption of effective strategies that reduce the amount of fishing gear from becoming marine debris across East Asia? 

Agenda 

10:30-11:30 - Refreshments and Viewing of marine debris recycling products

11:30-12:30 - Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony

 Remarks

- Dr. Brenda Jensen, Dean of College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Hawai'i Pacific University

- Ryan Kanaka'ole, Chairperson, Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)

- Dr. Jennifer Lynch, Director of Center for Marine Debris Research, Hawai'i Pacific University

- Dr. Shiau-Yun Lu, Director-General, Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration, Ocean Affairs Council

- Signing of MOU by Dr. Shiau-Yun Lu and Dr Brenda Jensen

- Questions

12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch and group photos

1:30-4:30 - International Derelict Fishing Gear Prevention Workshop

- Dr. Shiau-Yun Lu, Director-General, Taiwan Ocean Conservation Administration - Taiwan's Five Major Actions for Marine Debris Governance 

- Nikolai Maximenko, University of Hawai'i - Pathways of East-Asian marine debris to Hawai'i

- Eric Kingma, Hawai'i Longline Association - Economic and safety costs of ALDFG to the Hawaiian longline fishing sector

- James Morioka, Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project - Large-scale removal in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

- Sarah-Jeanne Royer, The Ocean Cleanup - Sources and origins of floating plastic debris from the North Pacific Garbage Patch

- Jennifer Lynch, Center for Marine Debris Research - Sources of debris removed from Hawai'i

- Carl Berg, Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter - A framework for source identification of marine debris and its many trophic level impacts on marine ecosystems

- Mafalda de Freitas, Center for Marine Debris Research - Recycling trials of marine debris in Hawai'i 

BREAK

- Panel Discussion

BREAK

- Group discussion to co-create the Hawai'i Taiwan Action Agenda

CLOSING

The results of our International Marine Debris Workshop will be posted here.

Stay tuned!