The webinar series supported efforts under the research goal of the Hawai‘i Marine Debris Action Plan to communicate and share Hawaii-based research projects. The NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Pacific Islands Region team organized the webinar series over four days to provide participants and researchers with ample time to present and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Previous versions of this regional research event were organized as in-person workshops. Moving to an online format allowed for more participants, eliminated the need for travel, and mitigated any health and safety concerns. Presentation topics ranged from container spills, microplastic sampling and analysis, the effects of plastic on corals, and much more. Fourteen research presentations were shared with an average of 24 participants each day.

Abstracts will be collected and included in the next Hawai‘i Marine Debris Action Plan update. The 2017 and 2019 Hawai‘i Marine Debris Research Workshop proceedings are available through the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.  

Regional coordination is foundational to the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Creating spaces for information sharing and community building, such as this research webinar series, is integral to supporting stakeholders across the country in shared solutions to marine debris.