How to Handle Wood Debris

By: Nir Barnea, Pacific Northwest Regional Coordinator

Logs and wood debris are common along U.S. West Coast states and Alaska. This year, however, beachgoers – even in Hawaii – may see a larger amount of logs and milled lumber debris on our coastal beaches, such as small beams and other structural lumber.

It is possible that some of these items are from the March 2011 tsunami in Japan and are just now reaching our shores. Wood typically floats lower in the water and may not move as fast as items like Styrofoam, empty plastic bottles, and floats that have arrived on U.S. shorelines in increased numbers for more than a year.

Milled lumber wood debris at Duk Point, WA. This type of wood debris need not be reported or removed. (Photo credit: David Easton)

Ornate wood debris near Florence, OR. Unusual wood debris items should be reported. (Photo credit: ODFW)

Handling Wood Debris
Remove wood debris, or leave it in place?  In most cases, leave it in place. Unless the wood is treated, or contains a lot of nails and other metal, the wood – an organic material – should stay on the beach, decay, and become part of the ecosystem.

Report wood debris? In most cases, there is no need to report wood. If the item is unusual and you believe that it is Japan tsunami marine debris (see above right photo), report it as you would any other item of particular interest.

What about marine growth on wood debris?  Most species on wood debris are not invasive and may be left alone to decay with the wood. For example, many of the tsunami debris items we’ve come across had pelagic gooseneck barnacles attached to them, a common marine organism that is not invasive. Here are a few examples of non-invasive organisms, courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Gooseneck barnacles

Brown hydroids

Green algae, Gooseneck barnacles, and brown hydroids mix

Aquatic invasive species experts have been collecting samples and studying the species found on marine debris, including the Japan tsunami marine debris. For more information on invasive species go to http://www.anstaskforce.gov/Tsunami.html and http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/

In Washington State, you may report any item you suspect may be harboring invasive species to 1-855-WACOAST. Please provide date and time, location (GPS coordinates if available), and general description. For more information, go to http://marinedebris.wa.gov/.

Please continue to report items that you believe are related to the Japan tsunami to disasterdebris@noaa.gov or check out all of the sightings reported to NOAA.

Work begins on dock removal in Washington

 

By: Dianna Parker, Communications Specialist

This week, workers began dismantling a 65-foot, 185-ton dock that washed up on a remote coastline in Washington in December. The dock, which is beached within the boundaries of Olympic National Park and NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, was ripped away from a port in Japan during the March 2011 tsunami. NOAA has contracted The Undersea Company of Port Townsend, Wash., to lead the removal.

The contractor plans to complete removal efforts by the end of March, depending on weather and tidal conditions. To protect contractor and visitor safety while the salvage work is underway, the coastal area of Olympic National Park between Goodman Creek and Jefferson Cove is closed to all public entry. In addition, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary regulations prohibit aircraft from disturbing wildlife by flying below 2,000 feet within one nautical mile of the coast or the offshore islands.

The concrete, Styrofoam, and steel structure is similar to a dock that washed up on Agate Beach in Oregon last summer. According to the Consulate-General of Japan, three of the four floating docks located at the Misawa Fishing Port washed away when the tsunami struck. Fishermen reportedly spotted the third missing dock floating near Oahu, north of Molokai, in Hawaii in September. It has not been located since.

For more photos of the removal operation, visit the Washington Department of Ecology’s Flickr page.

On the Hunt for Aliens at Midway Atoll

 

By: Carey Morishige, Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator

Midway Atoll is a tiny paradise near the center of the North Pacific Ocean,  roughly mid-way between North America and Asia. This unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States sits at the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago and is a National Wildlife Refuge, as well as part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. For me, Midway is simply one of the most amazing places I’ve had the privilege of visiting.

While there I assisted my colleague, Scott Godwin, resource protection specialist with the Monument, on cataloging alien species found both in the nearshore area and on marine debris, particularly potential Japan tsunami marine debris. We were on the hunt for marine invertebrate alien species, such as tunicates, crabs, and tubeworms.

An alien tunicate (Herdmania pallida) found nearshore.

Floating marine debris is an excellent raft for marine alien species, and it can easily transport species from one place to another, far from their home range. One impact of marine debris is the potential introduction of new alien species to an area. This can devastate sensitive or pristine marine ecosystems, such as those found within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

For Japan tsunami marine debris, items of particular interest are those that originated in the nearshore areas of Japan, such as a boat or floating pier. These items floated in nearshore waters long enough to have accumulated communities of marine organisms native to Japan. These organisms would be alien species, some potentially invasive, to our islands. Floating debris can also serve as a raft for pelagic (open ocean) species, such as the gooseneck barnacle. This species, and other common pelagic species, are not of great concern here in Hawaii because they are specifically adapted to the open ocean environment and would not survive in our nearshore areas (and thus not likely to become invasive).

While on the hunt, we found a couple of marine debris items that appeared to have alien species on them. We collected samples of each of the organisms, and Scott will work with his colleagues in the academic community on species identification. While this information will not tell us if the debris item was indeed lost with the March 2011 tsunami in Japan, it may reveal more information about its original location.

Polystyrene marine debris found with common gooseneck barnacles on the bottom as well as a couple of likely alien species: A) acorn barnacles and 2) calcareous tubeworm.

For more information on alien species on Japan tsunami marine debris, please visit http://anstaskforce.gov/Tsunami.html.

UPDATE: Dock spotted off WA coast found

By NOAA Marine Debris Program staff

UPDATE: The U.S. Coast Guard located the dock after an extensive aerial search. The dock is grounded in remote section of coast in the Olympic National Park, and officials are working on getting there in order to assess it.

***

Federal, state, and local officials are working to locate a large dock reportedly floating off the coast of Washington. The dock, similar in appearance to one that washed ashore in Oregon last June, has not been seen since it was initially reported by fishermen last Friday. The structure is suspected to be debris from the March 2011 tsunami in Japan:

“On Friday evening, fishermen aboard Fishing Vessel Lady Nancy reported a large object floating off the coast of Washington state, approximately 16 nautical miles northwest of the Grays Harbor entrance. NOAA is working to determine the object’s trajectory based on the reported location.

Washington State Emergency Management Division is coordinating the state efforts to address this object. Following its Marine Debris Response Plan, the state identified resources and brought in partners to prepare for the response. The state contacted federal and tribal partners to review the planned response. As needed, the Quinault Indian Nation will work with the state in response efforts, as will NOAA’s Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Since Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard has continuously broadcasted a Safety Marine Information Broadcast alerting mariners of this floating debris. Sector Columbia River/Air Station Astoria, Ore., conducted five searches for this floating debris, with an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, searching a combined area of 317 square miles. The Coast Guard will continue to work with NOAA, Washington state agencies and the Quinault Indian Nation to track this floating debris.”

Anyone sighting this object or other significant debris that may be from the tsunami is asked to contact local authorities and report it to DisasterDebris@noaa.gov.

A large structure is spotted off the coast of Washington. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River.

Cleaning up Marine Debris on the West Coast

By: Nir Barnea, West Coast Regional Coordinator, NOAA Marine Debris Program

Styrofoam pieces found along Long Beach Peninsula in Washington State.
Photo courtesy of: Ellen Anderson

Marine debris—This persistent, global problem has received much attention lately. Over the past couple months, debris from the March 2011 tsunami that struck Japan has started to wash ashore on the West Coast. Items such as a fishing boat, an intact Harley Davidson motorcycle, a soccer ball, and a 66-foot dock have been identified and confirmed as tsunami related debris. These items were traced back to the devastating event, and in the case of the soccer ball, the owner, 16 year-old Misaki Murakami, was reunited with his personal memento given to him by his third grade classmates.

The challenge with all marine debris, including debris from the tsunami, is that it is difficult to trace it back to its origin with certainty. And marine debris, regardless of the source, poses environmental and safety risks and can impact commerce and recreation.

So, how is debris handled? It depends on two factors: Type and location.

Large pieces of marine debris that pose a hazard to navigation are handled by the Coast Guard. One large item, the dock that washed up in Oregon,  is being removed by the State. The U.S.  EPA, Coast Guard, the State or local responders remove hazardous debris found on the beach, such as oil or chemical drums. However, the vast majority of marine debris, small and inert items such as plastic bottles, different types of packaging, buoys and Styrofoam are cleaned up by volunteer groups.

Here’s a case in point—the southwestern Coast of Washington State has been impacted by thousands of pieces of small  debris—the most prevalent being Styrofoam. Volunteer groups like Grass Root Garbage Gang have tackled and removed the influx of tons of marine debris from the beaches along the Long Beach Peninsula. The group mobilized volunteers along miles of shoreline and has packed hundreds of garbage bags with debris. Washington State is also assisting by deploying Washington Conservation Corps teams in a cleanup effort, and in Oregon, the state has set up dozens of disposal stations along the coast.

It’s important to remember that marine debris is an everyday problem, and its impacts are far-reaching. And, it is thanks to these volunteers and the commitment of West Coast state agencies, NGOs, supporting industries, federal, local and Tribal governments that marine debris will be assessed and removed as much as possible.

Looking for debris from the sky

By: Dianna Parker, Communications Specialist, NOAA Marine Debris Program

*JUNE 22 UPDATE - The test went as expected, despite rough seas and some cloud cover. We’re in the process of analyzing the results.*

This week, NOAA researchers will launch a Puma Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to determine whether it can detect marine debris off the coast of Oʻahu. The test is one of NOAA’s efforts to identify effective technologies for locating marine debris at sea—including debris from the Japan tsunami.

During the test, NOAA staff aboard two vessels will have the UAS as well as debris of varying sizes, materials, and buoyancy, including fishing nets, wooden construction debris, small buoys, and large buoys. Researchers will place the debris in the ocean as a “control” and then launch the UAS over the different items—hoping that the UAS will identify the debris.

If all goes as planned, the UAS will then send information back to NOAA in the form of high-resolution imagery. Additionally, scientists will test seven different satellite sensors and their ability to detect debris’ location and shape.

Puma UAS over open ocean. Credit: Will von Dauster / NOAA

The operation is part of a larger, two-day demonstration by NOAA’s UAS Program to explore how this technology can enhance management of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. If successful, the UAS could be used in remote marine protected areas worldwide for activities such as marine wildlife surveys for sea turtles, monk seals and sea birds.

After the debris test, scientists will come away with a better understanding of which satellites sensors are capable of seeing different items under certain conditions, or if the satellites don’t detect the debris, we’ll still come away with equally valuable information on what works and what doesn’t.

There’s no one thing that’s going to give us a clear picture of the Japan tsunami marine debris, but this is one of the many tools we’re using to complete the puzzle. NOAA will continue to explore other detection technologies, modeling, monitoring, and voluntary at-sea observation in our efforts to protect our trust resources and coastal communities.

We’ll be sure to give an update after the test. Stay tuned.

Soccer ball lost during tsunami found in Alaska

By: Dianna Parker, Communications Specialist, NOAA Marine Debris Program

A soccer ball that recently washed up on a remote Alaskan shore may belong to a teenager impacted by last year’s devastating tsunami in Japan. It’s likely to be one of the first items to return home after traveling thousands of miles across the North Pacific Ocean.

The Office of Response and Restoration’s Doug Helton and the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Neal Parry have the story:

An observant beach comber on Middleton Island, in the Gulf of Alaska, found a soccer ball and volleyball with Japanese writing on them. A school name is stenciled on the soccer ball, and his wife was able to translate the writing to trace it to a school. We have confirmed that the school was in the tsunami zone, but because the school is set up on a hill, it wasn’t seriously impacted.

A Japanese broadcasting station aired a photo of the ball and was able to locate 16 year-old Misaki Murakami, who recognized the ball and the messages written on it. One reportedly says, “Good luck, Murakami!!” He says he lost it, along with the rest of his possessions.