Record-Breaking 162,902 Pounds of Marine Debris and Trash Collected in 2024

In partnership with Hawaii Wildlife Fund and Hawaii Pacific University’s Center for Marine Debris Research, Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi volunteers removed more than 162,902 pounds (81 tons) of marine debris and trash from Kauaʻi’s beaches and rocky coastline. This figure beats the previously held record of 120,000 pounds in 2017.

Of the amount collected last year, the overwhelming majority (154,157 pounds) was marine debris — fishing nets, lines, eel traps, and other pollution that kills marine life and destroys reefs. According to the International Whaling Commission, 300,000 marine mammals — including whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions — die annually due to entanglements with ghost fishing gear. When turtles and fish are added in, the number of deaths is close to one million.

One of the reasons so much debris landed on Kauaʻi’s beaches and coastline is that ocean currents have pushed the Pacific Garbage Patch closer to the islands. The waste was collected from the ocean by weekly Net Patrols (287 in 2024), Ghost Net Hotline Response, Community and Hui Cleanups, Keiki Field Trip Cleanups, and solo cleanups by local residents as well as visitors, who learn about cleanups through social media or Surfrider Kauaʻi’s Ocean Friendly Visitors program hotel partners. By year’s end, Surfrider Kauai tallied a whopping 5,615 volunteers (including 444 local keiki) and 6,424 person-hours.

1 Surfrider Kauaʻi Beach Cleanup and Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Wiedner on left and Nalani Kanekua on right at an Anahola net patrol.  

2 Volunteer Steve Locey removing a net from Marine Camp, Hanamaulu. 

3 Kauaʻi visitor volunteers at a Lydgate Net Patrol. 

4 Barbara Wiedner at the marine debris baseyard where Surfrider Kauaʻi organizes and sorts marine debris which is later sent to the Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research. 

5 Surfrider Kauaʻi volunteers and featured marine debris artist Monika Mira working to load nets off the beach. 

A little Net Patrol history

Surfrider Kauaʻi did its first Net Patrol in 2006 as part of an Earth Day event. Led by Barbara Wiedner, a co-founder of the Surfrider Kauai chapter, the Net Patrols continued through Surfrider Kauaʻi’s Net Hotline. When reports of nets on beaches or the rocky coastline came in, Barbara would put together a rapid-response team of volunteers to get the net removed before tides might wash it back to sea, where it could endanger marine life and reefs. The Net Hotline program continues to this day, still led by Ms. Wiedner.

In 2013, Scott McCubbins joined Surfrider and committed to doing a weekly scheduled Net Patrol, which still takes place every Wednesday at 3:30 pm. Scott’s team consists of local volunteers and visitors who want to spend part of their vacation giving back to Kauaʻi and help protect its ocean, marine life, and reefs.

“We’re very proud of our Net Patrol and Rapid Response programs' record-breaking 81 tons of marine debris and trash collected from Kauaʻi beaches and coastlines in 2024. We are grateful to our loyal local volunteers, keiki, and visitors who participated in Net Patrols and beach cleanups to keep our waters and beaches safe for marine life and humans.” — Barbara Wiedner

Get involved

If you see a net on the beach or coastline please contact our Rapid Response Hotline at 808-635-2593. To volunteer for Net Patrol on Wednesdays, contact Scott McCubbins at 816-781-5883 or go to Kauaʻi Volunteer to see all volunteer opportunities.