QUESTION: Which agency is responsible for picking up fishnets, (dead) animals and debris that float up on Oahu beaches?

ANSWER: The short answer is that city, state and federal agencies all have roles in keeping beaches and waters near shore clear of debris, and so do beach users.

City Parks and Recreation Department workers clean beaches in city parks but not the rest of the coastline. Park workers clean the sand up to the high tide line every day, but “;if something is floating, we don't clear it,”; said director Les Chang. “;If it's on the Windward side, what floats will blow ashore and become ours. If it's a high-use area, we may go pull something ashore like fishing gear that could be hazardous for swimmers.”;

Floating debris falls under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which often collaborates with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Response Program. People who spot marine animals dead or in distress near shore, or see major clumps of debris, should report it to the DLNR enforcement line, 643-3567.

Deborah Ward, DLNR spokeswoman, said it's crucial that the observer takes notice of the location to give some points of reference for the responding crew.

NOAA takes on the large-scale projects, such as retrieving a dead marine animal that drifts near shore or removing tangles of nets that get stuck on the reefs. “;Our mandate is to protect the resources, monk seals, whales, turtles,”; said Carey Morishige, outreach coordinator with the NOAA Marine Debris Response Program. “;Underwater debris can be really dangerous for the public to try to tackle on their own. We have divers trained to do that.”;

She said NOAA dedicates much of its effort in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, habitat to many marine species.

Morishige said a Hawaii Marine Debris Action Plan was launched in January to coordinate efforts of all agencies “;so we know who has what resources and are not reinventing each other's wheel.”; A first priority will be to fund a hot line for marine debris calls.

State crews are the first responders to find and identify floating junk.

“;It depends on the object,”; Ward said. “;If it's a beached whale, we would refer to the NOAA whale sanctuary office. If it's a dead domestic animal, it's the city's problem. If it's a grounded boat, the boating division will call the owner and it's the owner's responsibility to clear it.”;

But, Ward said, things like driftwood and leaves are usually the responsibility of property owners and beachgoers. If you find broken glass on the beach, pick it up. If irresponsible picnickers leave smoking charcoal in the sand, pour water on it. There just isn't enough in the government budget and “;not enough manpower to vacuum the shoreline,”; Ward said. “;It's good citizenship. The government isn't automatically responsible for everything.”;

Citizen volunteer groups play a huge role in clearing dangerous and disagreeable junk from the beaches. “;Every weekend there are 10 to 15 projects going on in city parks,”; Chang said. Several organizations have committed to sustained cleanups in the city's Adopt-a-Park program. Others launch an occasional special initiative such as a one-day, islandwide project by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints two weeks ago. “;That was the biggest one I've seen. They took 23 tons of refuse from parks, not just beaches,”; Chang said.

Ward said the state agency helps set up volunteer events such as when Boy Scouts need to fulfill merit badge service projects. In a successful project set up by the state agency, Navy members from several ships who wanted to do community service were matched with a bunch of donated seedlings and planted the woody area around Kapena Falls in Nuuanu.

Community groups can sign on for park cleanup projects by calling the city parks community coordinator at 768-3007.

Groups can volunteer to clean up state parks, trails and forest areas by calling the DLNR public information office, 587-0320.

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June Watanabe is on vacation. Write to “;Kokua Line”; at Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).