Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (MANWR) is encompassed in the newly designated, and second largest marine protected area in the world, The
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM) (Figure 1). Midway Atoll lies 1200 miles northwest of Honolulu, Hawaii and is home to the worlds largest breeding colonies of two of the 3 North Pacific albatross species, the
Laysan Albatross (LAAL), listed globally as vulnerable (
IUCN 2008), and the
Black-footed Albatross (BFAL), listed globally as endangered (
IUCN 2008). The 2009 annual nest counts (every albatross nest on Midway’s 3 islands are counted) were just completed (2 January) and the preliminary data show 398,182 nesting pairs of LAAL and 23,955 nesting pairs of BFAL (USFWS, unpubl. data).
Figure 1 – Map Showing the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
Map reproduced with permission of NOAA monument officeDisturbingly these breeding grounds and the PMNM also are adjacent to two of the largest concentrations of floating
marine debris in the world’s oceans. Plastic debris makes up the 90% of the floating marine debris found in the ocean (
Weiss, 2006). One of those concentrations, the "Eastern Garbage Patch” is approximately twice the size of Texas (
Silverman, 2007). Both Albatross species nesting on MANWR and throughout the rest of the atolls in the PMNM spend much of their time feeding in areas adjacent to or directly in this “
Garbage Patch” (
Fernandez et al. 2001 and
Auman et al. 1997). It is primarily while feeding that albatross ingest a variety of plastic items (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Diversity of Swallowed Plastic Items Recovered From Albatross Chicks
© 2009 Heidi Auman reproduced with permissionIn doing so, they risk repeated exposure to an array of potentially toxic compounds (
Jones et al. 1996,
Ludwig et al. 1997,
Mato et al. 2001, and
Finkelstein et al. 2006). Further by regurgitating meals to their young, frequently loaded with this plastic, the true risks of this exposure may happen miles away from the point of contact, and some of these potential toxins may end up effecting the land-based albatross chicks more severely than the adults directly feeding in these areas.
Albatross chick carcass from Midway showing plastic present in gut at death.
© 2009 Wayne SentmanPlastic debris has been identified as a growing problem in the Pacific Ocean (
A.M.R.F., 2007). The currents or gyres that cause the pacific garbage patches to accumulate also are responsible for focusing some of that impact directly on LAAL and BFAL. This as a result of overlap between where these gyres concentrate marine debris and the areas of the north pacific in which the albatross are spending their time feeding (
Naughton et al, 2007). Additionally while many species of seabirds are known to ingest plastic (
Laist, 1997), both the LAAL and BFAL albatross chicks have been shown to regularly have relatively high, and increasing total amounts of plastic in their guts (
Kenyon and Kridler, 1969,
Auman et al. 1997,
Naughton et al. 2007). This is also compounded (for chicks) by not being able to expel, through regurgitation, any items in their gut until about 3 to 4 months of age. Therefore plastic brought to the chicks through the parents many feedings tends to sit and accumulate in the chicks’ digestive tract for long periods of time.
© 2009 Wayne Sentman
We stay at the Warana Lodge, a modest shelter with 5 rooms that adjoin onto a large eating area. The building is right along the nesting beach and many nights while we are having dinner either nesting turtles or hatchlings are spotted. There are many other creatures around the area as it is basically a tropical forest right out to the beach. We see squirrel monkeys, parrots, hawks, lizards, snakes, and sloths regularly. Even the occasional capybara has appeared near camp. 
Our group of 13 is made up of primarily college students from the US and Suriname. The US students will be learning about field research and human wildlife conflicts related to the sea turtles nesting areas. The students from Suriname will be learning about ecotourism and how it may be an effective means to conserve their native ecosystems from unsustainable human activities. Oceanic’s has a long history working with the Suriname government and Galibi’s local villagers to promote sea turtle conservation and research in the area. In addition to exploring the topics above with the students our goals will be to resight previously PIT tagged leatherbacks from the nesters observed collecting size data on any resights, and determine hatching success for all hatched nests that we find. 
Map reproduced with permission of NOAA monument office
© 2009 Heidi Auman reproduced with permission
© 2009 Wayne Sentman
© 2009 Wayne Sentman
is a marine conservation non-profit based in San Francisco that I work for. Oceanic Society organized all ecotour and volunteer research programs for visitors to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in the past (1997 - 2002). Currently we are working with the Midway Atoll refuge staff and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to continue in organizing naturalist led ecotours and groups interested in historic restoration now that the refuge has restarted its visitor services.
nesting colonies of the Laysan and Black-footed Albatross. The last refuge of the critically endangered Hawaiian Monk seal, 
the most endangered marine mammal found wholly within US waters. Other critters that call Midway Atoll home are the Green sea turtle and the Spinner Dolphin. 3 other species of sea turtle and 9 additional whale species that can be sighted in the protected waters surrounding the atoll.
The "Golden Gooney" or Short-tailed Albatross can also been seen on the islands of Midway. Thanks to the establishment of a decoy plot about 8-years ago on Eastern Island (one of the 3 islands found at Midway) there is hope that the Short-tailed Albatross will again start breeding on these islands. In addition to the seabirds a duck, the critically endangered Laysan Teal was also recently reintroduced to Midway Atoll and has quite successfully re-established itself on Eastern and Sand Islands.
