[Return to Conference Main Page] Conference Highlights Conference Proceedings Debris Photos Conference Hightlights Governor’s Proclamation Governor Cayetano proclaims August 6-12 as Marine Debris Awareness week in Hawai`i. (Click here for the complete text of the Governor's proclamation.) Host's Welcome Coference host, Allen Tom, manager of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary welcomes all participants, both those at the conference and those following the proceedings through the Internet, to the Conference Web site. Conference News Members of the conference communications team provided a series of articles on conference presentations and activities. Monday, August 7 Tuesday, August 8 Wednesday, August 9 Thursday, August 10 Friday, August 11 Monday, August 7 The First Day - Towards International Consensus and Pragmatic Action With a traditional Hawaiian chant and the sounding of a conch shell, the International Marine Debris Conference convened on Monday amid high hopes that the harmful impacts of derelict fishing gear can be reduced or prevented... (Click here for the complete story.) Mary Donahue Summarizes Current Efforts at Debris Removal Dr. Mary Donohue, Marine Debris Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu Laboratory, today summed up current efforts to address derelict fishing gear in the Pacific... (Click here for the complete story.) Young Environmentalists Entertain and Engage The Trash Busters strutted their stuff at the International Marine Debris Conference... (Click here for the complete story.) Tuesday, August 8 Two Speakers Urge Conference to Seize the Moment The task of forging an action plan today began in earnest at the International Marine Debris Conference, as participants broke into working groups organized thematically around special problems caused by derelict fishing gear. Before the start of breakout sessions, several featured speakers weighed in with words of encouragement... (Click here for the complete story.) Dr. Baker Reports the Successes of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Dr. D. James Baker, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and under secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at the U.S. Department of Commerce, speaks to conference participants about the new U.S. coral Reef Task Force... (Click here for the complete story.) Wednesday, August 9 New Zealand Woman Stops Debris From Going Down the Drain As the director of a non-governmental organization that addresses marine debris problems, Gael Arnold, makes some interesting observations... (Click here for the complete story.) Panelist Describes Hard Times for Taiwanese Trashbusters In addressing the Education and Outreach Panel, Dr. John Wang delivered the kind of news that normally would make the largely conservationist-minded types in the room cringe with dismay: "Whatever gear fishermen leave shore with, they simply let it go. It all goes overboard into the sea... (Click here for the complete story.) Rationalization of Fishing Effort Could Reduce Derelict Gear, Fishermen Say Fishing industry representatives from Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, California, Florida and the South Pacific met Wednesday to develop recommended actions to reduce the amount of derelict fishing gear in the ocean environment... (Click here for the complete story.) Participants in the Monitoring and Removal Working Group Express Their Views Dr. Mary Donohue, Marine Debris Coordinator with the National Marine Fisheries Service, chaired today's working group on derelict fishing gear monitoring and removal... (Click here for the complete story.) Thursday, August 10 Working Groups Continue to Draft Recommendations Shortly before subdividing into small teams as part of the solution-seeking process at the International Marine Debris Conference, participants in the education and outreach group were cautioned that the devil would, as usual, be in the details ... (Click here for the complete story.) Working Groups Report Preliminary Recommendations On the fourth day of the conference the six working groups report their preliminary recommendations for managing marine debris... (Click here for the complete story.) Friday, August 11 As the conference draws to a close, conference hosts Allen Tom and Kitty Simonds bid farewell to the participants and extend special gratitude to all those who made this international event possible. Tongan Official Summons Up Reverence for the Sea in Closing Marine Debris Conference Invoking the time-honored authority of Polynesia--one of the world's oldest seafaring cultures--the Secretary of Fisheries from the Kingdom of Tonga delivered the closing address at the International Marine Debris Conference... (Click here for the complete story.) An Ocean Issue Goes Global It takes more than technology to solve a problem that is as big as the ocean itself, said celebrity diver Jean-Michel Cousteau in a closing address at the International Marine Debris Conference in Honolulu. “The problems are so complex that people tune out. They tend to think nothing will get so bad in their lifetime.…Well, they are wrong,” said Cousteau... (Click here for the complete story.) [top] Daily Scenes Below is a visual sampling of the conference happenings. Monday, August 7 Tuesday, August 8 Wednesday, August 9 Thursday, Augurst 10 Monday, August 7 The International Marine Debris Conference opens with a traditional Hawaiian blessing and ceremony. The conch shell blower, chanter, and keiki (child) walked through the audience to the head table. Speakers include (L-R): Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, Jim Cook, Jim Coe, Kitty Simonds, and Allen Tom. (photo: Robert Rock) As part of the interpretation of the blessing, the chanter teaches the keiki (child) a hula. (photo: Robert Rock) Senator Daniel Inouye and Allen Tom, Conference Co-Chair. (photo: Robert Rock) Participants of the fourth International Marine Debris Conference meet for a photo outside the Hawai`i Convention Center. More than 25 national and international agencies, gathered together to raise awareness and find ways to minimize the many problems caused by derelict fishing gear. Senator Daniel Inouye and the Trash Busters, a group of students from Alaska, American Samoa, Hawai`i, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, who participated in a beach clean up project in Lagoon Drive, Hawai`i. Their video presentation at the conference was a hit with the attendees. (photo: Robert Rock) U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Lane Johnson, chief of waterways management and port operations for the 14th Coast Guard District, shows Dr. Ilse Kiessling, natural resource policy manager for the World Wide Fund for Nature in Australia some of the trash he collected from Waimanalo Beach, O`ahu. Among the garbage were clinkers, or partially incinerated plastic waste, and tops of detergent bottles. Johnson said many different types of vessels use detergent to breakdown oil when cleaning they clean their decks, and many times the tops will find their way into the ocean. Revised by the HIHWNMS web team on July 11, 2003. URL: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/special_offerings/sp_off/highlights.html.

Tuesday, August 8   NOAA Administrator D. James Baker at news conference announcing the agreements reached last week at the U.S. Task Force Meeting on Coral Reefs, held in American Samoa. TV camera panning the audience during Dr. Baker's news conference. Honolulu CBS affiliate KGMB-TV interviewing Dr. Baker. Dr. Baker, the Honorable Eni Faleomavaega, U.S. Congressional Representative from American Samoa; Kitty Simonds, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and conference co-chair; and Michael Julian, Australia Maritime Safety Authority at Washington Place. Daniel Basta, Acting Director of the National Marine Sanctuaries Program and Kitty Simonds, Executive Director of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, and co-chair (along with Allen Tom) of the International Marine Debris Conference. Participants enjoy the food and company at Washington Place. (L-R) Bud Antonelis, Seba Sheavly, Chris Woolaway, and Daniel Torres.

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Wednesday, August 9   Allen Tom, sanctuary manager and conference co-chair, and Naomi McIntosh, assistant sanctuary manager, stand in front of the sanctuary's display in the exhibits hall. Wednesday Poster Session: Rod Kennett, Australia's Center for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resources, Ilse Kiessling, World Wildlife Fund, Mary Donohue and Djawa Yunupingu, pose in front of their poster depicting sources of marine debris found on the shorelines of northern Australia. Peter Lingren, of Florida-based Lindgren-Pitman Inc., learned that ingestion of lightsticks and other plastics led to the deaths of innumerable albatross chicks, he spent months designing a new lightstick that would sink when lost. Here, Peter shows his environmentally friendly lightstick that is now on the market. Wednesday luncheon panelists, (L-R) Kitty Simonds, Michael Julian, Roger Rufe and Rebecca Lentz.

Thursday, August 10   Participants in one of Thursday's working group sessions. Jeff Walters, State sanctuary co-manager, and Todd Jacobs (standing L-R) are the facilitors for the Prevention and Legal Issues group. [top] Revised by the HIHWNMS web team on July 11, 2003. URL: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/special_offerings/sp_off/highlights.html.