Brain coral and sea fan close-up. 1987 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Photo Contest entry.

Flamingo tongue snail on a sea fan close-up.

Horse conch in sand and coral rubble.

A lettuce sea slug.

A reticulated brittle star. 1989 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Photo Contest entry.

Atlantic trumpet triton and cushion sea star.

Close-up of a spotlight parrotfish supermale.

Barrel sponges.

Glassy sweepers and elkhorn coral. 1987 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Photo Contest entry.

Soft corals.

French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru)

Sponges.

Tube sponges.

School of yellowtail snapper (Lutjanus chrysurus).

Yellowtail snapper (Lutjanus chrysurus).

Lift bags bringing derelict net debris to the surface

Cod end of a trawl net that weighed over 5000 pounds. This net debris had to be towed back to the CASITAS for lifting onto deck. This net probably drifted thousands of miles before becoming lodged on the reef at Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

Beach debris on Pearl and Hermes Atoll.

Part of the debris removal crew from the Pacific Islands Fisheries Center based in Honolulu.

Returning to the contract vessel CASITAS with a load of derelict nets.

Snorkeler removing entangled net from coral. There was always a diving partner observing ready to assist in the event of entanglement or other problems.

Snorkeler removing entangled net from coral. There was always a diving partner observing ready to assist in the event of entanglement or other problems. Note emergency scuba tank in upper right of image ready for use if need be.

Derelict net on surface after removal from reef.

Whale vertebrae wrapped up in derelict net. Whale had succumbed fairly recently to drowning while entangled as flesh was still associated with vertebrae.

Whale flesh entangled in derelict net.

Preparing to weight derelict net that had just been lifted onto the CASITAS.

Scuba gear, remains of lunch, and derelict net on small craft prior to return to ship.

Pulling derelict net on board small craft for transport to CASITAS.

Pulling derelict net on board small craft for transport to CASITAS.

Experimental drifter buoy for determining currents within atoll lagoon. It has little above water profile to minimize wind transport and little below water profile to minimize reef dragging or collisions. This system was developed by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.

Green turtle skeleton entangled in derelict net.

Green turtle skeleton entangled in derelict net.

Green turtle skeleton entangled in derelict net.

Snorkeler on tow-board looking for debris.

Snorkeler removing entangled net from coral. There was always a diving partner observing ready to assist in the event of entanglement or other problems. Note emergency scuba tank in upper right of image ready for use if need be.

Snorkeler on tow-board looking for debris.

Derelict net entangled on reef with steel shackle that could cause reef damage.

Large derelict net entangled on reef.

Portion of large derelict net on surface while still entangled on reef.

Towing a big derelict net back to the CASITAS. This net weighed over 5000 pounds.

Derelict net debris being removed from inflatable boat and onto deck of CASITAS.

A big load of derelict net debris being loaded onto the deck of contract vessel CASITAS.

Sorting and cataloging data on nets to identify source of net material. Also gathering information on whether natural fiber vs. artificial fiber.

Derelict net wrapped up on reef. This will kill reef-building animals as well as provide a locus for the growth of algae.

Lift bags bringing derelict nets to surface.

Lunchtime siesta after a hard morning of removing and loading derelict nets.

Snorkelers guiding a derelict net back to the inflatable boat for transport to the contract vessel CASITAS.

Experimental drifter buoy for determining currents within atoll lagoon. It has profile to minimize reef dragging or collisions. This system was developed by Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center.

Green dye for determining current direction within Pearl and Hermes Atoll Lagoon. The dye will ground-truth the motion of the drifter buoy.

Putting debris in shipping containers for final disposition.