Adopt a Beach

Marine debris is any human-created waste that has entered the marine environment. Most of the debris comes from land-based sources, occurring as easily as someone littering a cigarette butt or soda can. A large and disturbing amount of marine debris is composed of plastics and other materials that resist natural degradation. Debris in our oceans kills and injures wildlife, spreads invasive species, leaches pollutants and endangers human health. Our conservation commitment includes monitoring, collecting and reporting marine debris found in our oceans, as well as helping to keep Maui’s beaches and parks tobacco-free.

Adopt a Beach aims to connect the Maui community to consistent, on the ground data collection pertaining to marine debris — one of the major threats facing whales, dolphins, turtles, and other marine life. Program participants commit to be stewards of a chosen beach or stretch of coastline, whereby they will collect debris and data monthly. This data helps to guide and support mitigation strategies on Maui and throughout the state.

With this more structured approach to community science, we hope that we will not only make a difference in reducing the amount of debris on beaches across island, but also raise awareness within the program participants about this pervasive issue. Most importantly, we will continue to gather useful data to help guide and support legislation that aims to mitigate the pervasive marine debris issue.

Are you a Maui resident looking to become an ocean steward? Adopt a Beach! Follow the instructions below to fill out a volunteer application and view the beaches that are up for adoption. We recommend a beach close to your house or one you visit frequently for ease of participation.

Instructions to register. If you have any questions, please call [phone]
Want to help but can’t commit to helping once a month? Check out our Coastal Marine Debris Monitoring Program for an opportunity to contribute to our growing database — community science on your own time!

Thank you Bendsound for providing the audio :)

[bruceg]

Thanks for the great "Adopt a Beach" program PWF is doing. Learning, Citizen Science, and Debris Clean Up all at once! My Earth Day focus was devoted to learning more about Ocean Debris and to better understand efforts to mitigate it. I am too far from the ocean to collect debris today so I watched all I could find online. Your program is wonderful. I'm proud to be a PWF member.