[Return to Conference Main Page] Daily Scenes Conference Proceedings Debris Photos Conference Hightlights This page provides a small visual sampling of the conference happenings. It will be expanded after the conference adjourns as a rich photographic record of the proceedings. 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.

[top]

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.

[top]

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 October 09, 2002. URL: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/special_offerings/sp_off_imdc/daily_news.html.