By ODA Maui Volunteer Dive Team Coordinator Lloyd Johnson

One of our regular marine debris cleanup sites is La Perouse Bay which lies just beyond the ʻĀhihi-Kīnaʻu Natural Area Reserve, which was created to protect marine life, coral reefs, and fragile ecosystems.

On May 13th, 2025, a collaboration of Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA), Maui Mantas, and Maui Pacific Divers were transported to La Perouse Bay by our boat partner Maui Pacific Divers and successfully removed 250 pounds of fishing tackle!

Our cleanup site was outside the ‘Āhihi-Kīna‘u reserve which according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) "is located on the southwest corner of the island of Maui and was the first designated Natural Area Reserve in 1973."

It's important to keep the area clean because there is a lot of fishing activity just outside the boundary of the Reserve. We want to retrieve all the ghost gear / fishing tacke possible as we don't any of it to be washed into the Reserve by the currents. 

The DNLR also shared, "The 1,238 acres contain marine ecosystems (807 submerged acres), rare and fragile anchialine ponds, and lava fields from the last eruption of Haleakala 200-500 years ago.”

One of the main threats to the area is human activity, so fishing and motorized watercraft are restricted in much of the area to preserve biodiversity. Fishing often happens just outside the designated area.

Our volunteers on this day included Rae Duran, Bobby John, Lloyd Johnson, Evan Marcus-Rotman, and Brian Siefert. Jessica Albietz was our photographer, and our captain was Mikal with J.J. and Logan as crew.

We're thankful for ODA's donor support so our crew could be taken out by boat to clean in this gorgeous Maui Bay -- making the waters safer for marine wildlife and their habitats.

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