North Atlantic Gyre: Rampant plastic debris discovered in the North Atlantic Ocean
source: http://5gyres.org
-
-
- steevdanger
- added this
5gyres.org
panexplore.com
A research expedition has been conducted in the North Atlantic Ocean between the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Azores.The expedition was headed by Dr. Marcus Eriksen of Algalita Marine Research, who has done extensive research on the North Pacific Gyre, and has sailed a raft made of plastic bottle from California to Hawaii. The crew members of the S/V Sea Dragon used a specially designed "Manta Trawl" to skim along the surface of the ocean to collect debris. During the transect, each trawl produced plastic fragments. Along with the trawls, the team scouted for floating debris, finding things along the lines of rubber boots, buckets, crates, and plastic toys. Preliminary research took place in the months leading up to the expedition. Sailing from England to Portugal, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Guyana, and through the Caribbean, the team of the Sea Dragon found plastic debris on every beach visited. Along with visible debris like plastic bottles and flip flops, the team found tiny fragments of plastic and pre-production pellets called "nurdles."
What's frightening is that this story is playing out all over the world. Our waste is turning up in the most remote corners of the planet, including the middle of the oceans. Other research groups are conducting similar studies, and hopefully the combined knowledge of these expeditions will lead us to a solution.
panexplore.com
A research expedition has been conducted in the North Atlantic Ocean between the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Azores.The expedition was headed by Dr. Marcus Eriksen of Algalita Marine Research, who has done extensive research on the North Pacific Gyre, and has sailed a raft made of plastic bottle from California to Hawaii. The crew members of the S/V Sea Dragon used a specially designed "Manta Trawl" to skim along the surface of the ocean to collect debris. During the transect, each trawl produced plastic fragments. Along with the trawls, the team scouted for floating debris, finding things along the lines of rubber boots, buckets, crates, and plastic toys. Preliminary research took place in the months leading up to the expedition. Sailing from England to Portugal, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Guyana, and through the Caribbean, the team of the Sea Dragon found plastic debris on every beach visited. Along with visible debris like plastic bottles and flip flops, the team found tiny fragments of plastic and pre-production pellets called "nurdles."
What's frightening is that this story is playing out all over the world. Our waste is turning up in the most remote corners of the planet, including the middle of the oceans. Other research groups are conducting similar studies, and hopefully the combined knowledge of these expeditions will lead us to a solution.
-
-
bailey78
-
Yep thats what I see when I go down by the bay to fish. Plastic and other trash but mostly plastic. I will take a picture the next time I go.
- 2 years ago
-
bailey78
