Observance of marine debris on the remote islands and atolls of the Pacific Remote Islands
Marine National Monument is a common occurrence; blending into the scenery due to the
overwhelming volume. When the East Japan Tsunami occurred on March 11, 2011, it pulled an
unimaginable amount of debris into the ocean, adding to volume of debris already floating
around the ocean. With the focus on the environmental damage, it is easy to forget the human
connections and the lives that have been forever changed.
Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, (http://www.fws.gov/refuge/johnston_atoll/) is thought
to be one of the most remote islands in the world. It is the only land to be found in 750,000
square miles of the north central Pacific Ocean. The Refuge is the breeding site for 15 seabirds,
and wintering grounds for 5 shorebirds.
While performing bird surveys on May 21, 2014, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/AmeriCorps
intern Danielle Lampe observed a jet ski resting upside down on the seaward beach of East
Island, Johnston Atoll. The registration number and markings indicated that it could possibly be
from the 2011 Tsunami. Upon, finding the vessel, Lampe along with crew members of the M/V
Kahana went back to document the condition and location of the Jet Ski and to bring it back to
the vessel for transport back to Honolulu, HI. After being loaded on board via a crane, it was
thoroughly washed with fresh water and sealed with plastic shrink wrap to ensure that no
invasive species were transported back to Honolulu.
Upon arrival back in Honolulu, the search for the origins of the Jet Ski began. A brief summary
of the finding along with photos that included the GPS locations was prepared and sent to key
affiliates with NOAA, the State Department, Japanese Consulate, University of Hawaii, and the
Department of Land and Natural Resources of the State of Hawaii. The story caught the attention
of many people that put many hours of time and effort into determining if the debris was from
the 2011 Tsunami.
After 5 long months, everyone’s hard work paid off. The Jet Ski was found to have originated
from the Fukushima Perfecture of Japan and had been washed to sea by the Tsunami. The owner
was identified as Mr. Tomomune Matsunaga currently residing in a refuge in Iwaki-city,
Fukushima Perfecture. Mr. Matunaga is in a refuge because the Tsunami destroyed his
hometown and due to radiation from the damaged nuclear power plant his home is within a
restricted area where only the restoration workers are allowed access. Mr. Matsunaga was elated
at the news that we found something he had lost and had reached out to him.
Mr. Matsunaga’s story was very touching and we are so thrilled that we could give him the news.
This story is a reminder about how connected we all are and how with cooperation the most
unlikely of tasks can be accomplished.
We owe a sincere Thank You to everyone who was involved and worked so hard to find Mr.
Tomomune Matsunaga and give him the news about his Jet Ski, in particular Chris Woolaway
the Hawaii State ICC Coordinator for “Get The Drift & Bag It!” and Keep the Hawaiian Islands
Beautiful, as well as Mikikio Kishimoto of the Japan Environmental Action Network (JEAN),
who spent countless hours communicating with people both in Hawaii and Japan to help
facilitate this discovery and working to try to get the Jet Ski onboard a ship to be transported
back to Japan to be reunited with its owner. We would also like to thank the M/V Kahana for
assisting in the recovery and transport from Johnston to Honolulu and to express gratitude to the
Captain and Crew of the F/V Fukushima Maru of the Fisheries High School in the Fukushima
Perfecture who were able to transport the Jet Ski from Honolulu, Hawaii to Japan to be reunited
with Mr. Matsunaga.
Figure 1 – The Jet Ski as it washed up on the beach of East Island, Johnston Atoll. Photo Credit: Danielle
Lampe/USFWS.
Figure 2 – It was obvious that the Jet Ski had suffered severe damage while being tossed through the waves of the
Pacific Ocean Basin. Photo Credit: Danielle Lampe/USFWS.
Figure 3 – Flipping the Jet Ski over revealed the extent of the damage, as well as a detailed paint job. It was obvious
that someone put a lot of time into the design of the watercraft. Photo Credit: Danielle Lampe/USFWS
Figure 4 – The Jet Ski being loaded onto the M/V Kahana after being retrieved from East Island. Photo Credit:
Danielle Lampe/USFWS.
Figure 5 – Southwest shore of East Island. Photo Credit: Mark Brown/USFWS
Figure 6 – The Northeast coast of East Island, Johnston Atoll, the shore that the Jet Ski had washed up on. Photo
Caption: C. Eggleston/USFWS.
Figure 7 – Map of the islands that make up Johnston Atoll and shows the location where the Jet Ski was found at
Longitude: 169o29”10.24 W, Latitude: 16o45”21.88 N. Photo Credit: Google Earth.
Figure 8 – East Island of Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge with the location of the Jet Ski indicated. Photo
Credit: Google Earth.
Figure 9 - Map of the Pacific Ocean showing the locations of the National Wildlife Refuges and Marine National
Monuments. Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is where the Jet Ski was found. Photo Credit: David
Hoy/USFWS.