What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

Endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other marine life have benefitted from 25 years of large-scale marine debris removal in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), according to the cover story in the current issue of Science.

Scientists from NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) have been studying the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and coral reefs for more than 40 years.

To reduce harm to Hawaiian monk seals, as well as the broader marine ecosystem, large-scale, multi-agency, and multi-partner marine debris removal efforts were initiated to decrease impacts of plastic marine debris, primarily abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear.

A team of researchers from PIFSC, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project, and the University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program (Hawaiʻi Sea Grant) examined Hawaiian monk seal entanglement records spanning more than 40 years, both before and after large-scale removal efforts were initiated, and found a substantial reduction in the rate of entanglement where the debris removal effort was most concentrated.

Jason Baker, marine biologist with the NOAA PIFSC Protected Species Division and lead author on the study, said "Now we know that all the hard work and dedication of so many people and organizations that contributed to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine debris cleanup did achieve its aim of reducing monk seal entanglement, saving seal lives and improving nearshore habitats."

• Read More