Final Count: Team removes 14 metric tons of marine debris from Midway Atoll

James Morioka, Kerrie Krosky, Kristen Kelly, Tomoko Acoba, Kevin O'Brien, Kerry Reardon, Edmund Coccagna, Joao Garriques, and Russell Reardon (clockwise from upper right) pose on April 18 atop the large, 13,795-kg pile of derelict fishing gear and plastic debris collected during their 21-day mission at Midway Atoll. Credit: Edmund Coccagna

The last six days of a marine debris survey and removal effort at Midway Atoll upped the total of marine debris removed from the reefs and shorelines to nearly 14 metric tons. The 9-person marine debris team of NOAA's Pacific Islands Fisheries Service Center (PIFSC) Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED) spent a total of 21 days at the atoll in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument conducting studies on accumulation rates of marine debris and removal of debris.

Read more on the PIFSC blog here.