Day 22....Blooming Plankton and Ghost Net

July 1, 2009
24 24.81N, 160 59.20W

We made it through the Kaulakahi channel between Kaua’i and Ni’ihau and continued northwest. Last night we set a trawl to sample just outside the 50 mile limit around Nihoa, also known as Bird Island or Moku Manu, an additional data point for an area not yet sampled. We seem to be doing a lot of that on this trip, seeing as how Mother Nature seems to keep us guessing as to the wind.

The trawl resulted in some unusual findings including what we believe is a type of juvenile flounder or flat fish hat has disguised itself to look like a feather when seen by a bird above or fish below….VERY INTERESTING!

There was also a bit more plastic than we have seen so far in a single 2 hr trawl.




Several larger pieces and lots of small bits.




Today started with sails back down as the wind sort of took a sabbatical, again. With both motors humming along, we entered into a current line where two opposing currents met and formed almost a smooth line on the water surface. In that line was a bloom of plankton that stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction. We also noticed a dramatic increase in the plastic debris. We could even see the increase from the deck of the boat, where much of the time one has to be "in the water" to find the plastic.

So while I drove, Charlie and Joel armed with hand nets, waited, poised at the bow to scoop up anything that didn’t belong.

Soon I heard the yell, “Ghost Net!!!”
We immediately cut engines and drifted up to a section of fishing net, just floating along waiting to foul an unsuspecting boat's prop or snag a centerboard (see picture below).

With the calm seas, we unanimously decided to explore this plankton bloom and ghost net from the waters vantage point. Again, I reached for my dive gear while everyone else suited up to snorkel.


This time Nicole got to play with
the Liquid Image
camera mask!


The plankton formed a yellow roof over my head and this ball of net ominously hung in the water with a small group of pelagic fish using it as cover.

After getting solid documentation of the "ghost" net, I looked to the perimeter of the yellow ceiling, and spotted several more pieces of debris. One piece was a large top section to some type of plastic tub or container. There was some growth on the container, but what surprised me the most were the two Sargassum Frogfish living inside.

I didn't know frogfish would be this far out to sea! But I knew where to look for the name of this type of frogfish from the hundreds of hours I have spent perusing over "Hoover's Hawaii's Fishes, A Guide For Snorkelers, Divers and Aquarists" book. I was unaware that there was a pelagic Sargassum frogfish, but now I know…Thanks to John Hoover!!!!

All in all, it was a successful dive!!! We gathered vital samples and video documentation of the correlation between plankton blooms and plastic debris concentrations. Plus we gathered up about 3 dozen pieces of debris, including the dangerous ghost net!!!!

Who knows what tomorrow will bring…..let’s hope..WIND!

Just a little side note...to view the photos in my blog larger, place your cursor over the photo and click twice and the photo will appear larger in a window for "easier" viewing. BUT then you must click your "return to previous page" button to continue reading the blog. Mahalo