Marine debris, especially abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), also known as derelict fishing gear (DFG), threatens Hawaiian marine life and ecosystems daily - entangling marine life, damaging coral reefs and posing navigational hazards for vessels.
The Bounty Project tackles this issue by rewarding commercial fishers for retrieving DFG from the North Pacific Ocean and seeks to accelerate removal of plastic marine debris.
Together we are making our waters safer, supporting local fishers, and reducing ocean pollution.
How the bounty works
After detecting and retrieving DFG while out at sea, fishers receive compensation - $1-$3 per dry pound - based on the type of DFG that is brought back to shore.
This DFG is then sorted, studied, and recycled when possible - helping us better understand how to combat the issue
where we operate
The Bounty Project focuses on the waters surrounding Hawaiʻi in the North Pacific Ocean and the waters and shoreline of the Island of Oʻahu.
Hawaiʻi is heavily impacted by marine debris due to its proximity to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a highly concentrated area of marine debris, and fishers collaborating with us often fish within and remove debris from the GPGP.
OUR PROGRESS SO FAR
Since November 2022, the project has removed over 28,441 kg - equivalent to 62,701 lbs - of derelict fishing gear from the North Pacific Ocean and Oʻahu waters and shoreline.
JOIN THE EFFORT
Today, over 50 fishers are participating in this project. Are you a commercial fisher and want to be paid for derelict fishing gear removal?
IN COLLABORATION WITH