Lend a helping hand 🐣💛
At Hōlanikū, we believe in laulima—many hands working together for the good of all. We’re sharing this important video to highlight the dangers derelict fishing nets and lines pose to Black-footed Albatross and other seabirds. When left in nests, this debris can cause entanglement, injury, and even death. By removing it, we practice laulima in action—keeping nests safe and helping seabirds thrive.
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) nest in colonies on low-lying sandy beaches and dunes, returning to the same nesting site year after year. Each pair lays a single egg between November and December in a shallow sandy nest bowl. While these nests are simple, adults often add nearby natural materials like grasses and sticks. Unfortunately, derelict fishing nets and lines are sometimes mistaken for nesting material instead of natural debris.
In this instance, the netting was wrapped around the parent's foot and was likely to become a greater hazard. If needed, the parent will replace this material with another nearby item, such as sticks and leaves found on the beach. This is why we remove marine debris from beaches and ensure all nests are free of entanglements. On average, our team removes 10,000 pounds of marine debris that could cause wildlife entanglements each year.
Video features a trained seabird biologist — do not attempt this at home. If you encounter wildlife in distress, please contact your local wildlife professionals.
To support this work, consider donating to Kure Atoll Conservancy (links in bio)
Mahalo nui loa!
Hōlanikū Crew
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