June 24, 2025 — The University of Hawaii announced a new competition to develop innovative tools that can be used to cut and remove derelict fishing nets from the ocean.
The University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program and Papahanaumokuakea Marine Debris Project launched a new “Marine Debris Hackathon” challenge, for participants to design and develop next-generation tools.
Derelict fishing gear, also called “ghost gear,” poses a severe risk to marine life and coral reefs.
Methods for ghost gear removal are often labor-intensive and limited by existing tool capabilities.