Data from: Removing plastic benefits marine ecosystems: Evidence from four decades of endangered seal entanglement

Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) causes
tremendous harm to marine species and ecosystems. To mitigate the
destruction wrought by these ocean plastics, various cleanup programs have
been established, though benefits of such efforts to marine species and
ecosystems have not been demonstrated. We examined over 40 years of
Hawaiian monk seal marine debris entanglement records before and after
large-scale marine debris removal efforts were initiated in the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, demonstrating a significant reduction in
entanglement rate where debris removal effort was most concentrated.
Large-scale and sustained removal of ALDFG meaningfully benefits marine
ecosystems and has the potential to be transformational in restoration
efforts.