A major trash cleanup by a nonprofit organization has concluded at Kuaihelani, also known as Midway Atoll, located in a marine national monument that is home to hundreds of endangered Hawaiian monk seals and 14 million seabirds representing 22 species.

Some 70,080 pounds of marine debris were hauled away and nearly 11 miles of shoreline cleaned up at Kuaihelani, located within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, according to a news release from Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project.

Some 35,100 pounds of derelict fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, were among the debris. Nearly 33,000 pounds of other marine garbage, such as buoys and floats, were also removed.

Twelve people from PMDP, a Hawaii-based nonprofit organization, were involved in the 19-day cleanup, the first of three that the group plans to conduct this year. Over the past four years, PMDP has removed over 785,000 pounds of marine debris from the islands and atolls within the national monument. They aim to remove an additional 215,000 pounds later this year.

The crew focused its efforts on removing “entanglement and ingestion hazards” to wildlife from the shorelines of Eastern, Spit, and Sand Islands within Kuaihelani.

“PMDP came to Kuaihelani with the goal of removing 35,000 pounds of marine debris to preemptively protect the wildlife, and I’m proud to say we more than doubled our goal,” said Sydney Luitgaarden, operations lead with PMDP.

The atoll hosts more than 70 endangered Hawaiian monk seals. It also provides nesting habitat for the world’s largest colony of mōlī, or Laysan Albatross, and nearly two million birds of 19 different species, including the world’s most endangered duck, the Laysan duck, according to the nonprofit.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program helps sponsor the debris cleanup work.

“The NOAA Marine Debris Program has been a proud supporter of marine debris removal efforts in the Monument since 2006. We are pleased to continue NOAA’s legacy in this culturally and ecologically significant place, and support the efforts of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project,” said director Nancy Wallace.

Gov. Josh Green said in the news release that when then-First Lady Laura Bush dedicated the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, it filled him with hope for the preservation of the 7,000 marine species there, 25% of them, endemic to the Hawaiian islands.

Papahānaumokuākea is cooperatively managed by the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, State of Hawaii and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. In July 2010, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument was designated as the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States, noted for its natural and cultural significance.