The Monster 11-Ton Net That Threatened Hawaii’s Coast | National Geographic

the net that we found was first located

the net that we found was first located in September of 2013 the sheer volume of

in September of 2013 the sheer volume of

in September of 2013 the sheer volume of it is pretty astounding all in all it

it is pretty astounding all in all it

it is pretty astounding all in all it took about four whole days of cutting

took about four whole days of cutting

took about four whole days of cutting and prepping and towing to get this

and prepping and towing to get this

and prepping and towing to get this single net which weighed approximately

single net which weighed approximately

single net which weighed approximately 11 and a half tons from the reef back to

11 and a half tons from the reef back to

11 and a half tons from the reef back to one of the four recycling processes the

one of the four recycling processes the

one of the four recycling processes the focus of our survey removal efforts is

focus of our survey removal efforts is

focus of our survey removal efforts is to mitigate the threats that these nets

to mitigate the threats that these nets

to mitigate the threats that these nets and or other derelict fishing gear have

and or other derelict fishing gear have

and or other derelict fishing gear have towards our endangered Hawaiian monk

towards our endangered Hawaiian monk

towards our endangered Hawaiian monk seal and as well

seal and as well

seal and as well our threatening green sea turtles here

our threatening green sea turtles here

our threatening green sea turtles here and essentially these shallow coral reef

and essentially these shallow coral reef

and essentially these shallow coral reef environments just act as a entrapment

environments just act as a entrapment

environments just act as a entrapment for these nets and plastics that are

for these nets and plastics that are

for these nets and plastics that are just flowing through the ocean the video

just flowing through the ocean the video

just flowing through the ocean the video you see you have in one case two free

you see you have in one case two free

you see you have in one case two free divers methodically swimming a cargo net

divers methodically swimming a cargo net

divers methodically swimming a cargo net under a portion of this large monster

under a portion of this large monster

under a portion of this large monster net that we found and helping to prepare

net that we found and helping to prepare

net that we found and helping to prepare it for transport back to our NOAA Ship

from a global perspective it may be a

from a global perspective it may be a small net but in the capacity of the

small net but in the capacity of the

small net but in the capacity of the Hawaiian Islands in the northwestern

Hawaiian Islands in the northwestern

Hawaiian Islands in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands with pristine coral

Hawaiian Islands with pristine coral

Hawaiian Islands with pristine coral reefs and uninhabited islands and atolls

reefs and uninhabited islands and atolls

reefs and uninhabited islands and atolls it’s a pristine ecosystem that these

it’s a pristine ecosystem that these

it’s a pristine ecosystem that these nets essentially can compromise both

nets essentially can compromise both

nets essentially can compromise both destroying reefs as well as potentially

destroying reefs as well as potentially

destroying reefs as well as potentially killing other mobile wildlife the pile

killing other mobile wildlife the pile

killing other mobile wildlife the pile of debris on the back of that NOAA Ship

of debris on the back of that NOAA Ship

of debris on the back of that NOAA Ship and basically that is the fruits of our

and basically that is the fruits of our

and basically that is the fruits of our labor that’s the 57 tons of primarily

labor that’s the 57 tons of primarily

labor that’s the 57 tons of primarily nets and plastics that we removed over

nets and plastics that we removed over

nets and plastics that we removed over the 21 operational days by the time we

the 21 operational days by the time we

the 21 operational days by the time we get to it it’s it’s essentially too late

get to it it’s it’s essentially too late

get to it it’s it’s essentially too late if you think about it it needs to start

if you think about it it needs to start

if you think about it it needs to start with education outreach and in getting

with education outreach and in getting

with education outreach and in getting stories like this out to the public and

stories like this out to the public and

stories like this out to the public and the fishermen to know that you know hey

the fishermen to know that you know hey

the fishermen to know that you know hey you could be thousands and thousands of

you could be thousands and thousands of

you could be thousands and thousands of miles away and it may not be your home

miles away and it may not be your home

miles away and it may not be your home but you may be impacting somebody’s home

but you may be impacting somebody’s home

but you may be impacting somebody’s home and their livelihood