Hawaii Project Removes 84 Tons of Fishing Gear
Why this is here: The project compensates fishermen for collecting abandoned gear, creating a financial incentive and diversifying their income while simultaneously protecting marine ecosystems.
A Hawaii project removed over 84 tons of abandoned fishing gear from the North Pacific Ocean. The “Bounty Project,” run by the University of the Pacific, converts commercial fishermen into ocean cleanup agents. The initiative operates in the North Pacific Garbage Patch, targeting debris before it harms reefs or endangered species.
The project, launched in November 2022, incentivizes fishermen to collect discarded gear during routine fishing trips. Eligible fishermen receive financial compensation through partnerships with the Hawaiʻi Longline Association and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. This approach removes waste at sea, preventing coastal damage.
To date, 77 commercial fishermen have participated, completing over 690 retrievals of ghost nets. Collected material undergoes reuse, recycling, energy recovery, or environmentally sound disposal. Eighty-eight percent of non-longline fishermen removed gear within 12 hours of initial detection.