It is said that if we don’t stop polluting our oceans, by 2050 we will have more plastic in our oceans than fish. Even today, we have started to see plastic make its way into our food chain. It is estimated that there are currently 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans. The biggest collection of plastic is known as the “great pacific garbage patch” which sits between Hawaii and California.
The Ocean Voyages Institute removed an impressive 103 tons of fishing nets and other plastic waste from the garbage patch. This is more than double their result last year!
Of the 103 tons, the team are aiming to send none of it to landfill. Instead they want the plastic to be recycled into other plastic products or burnt for energy.
The nets are located via GPS trackers. Since 2018, volunteers have been fitting trackers to nets. Once one net is tracked it very often leads to others being found near by.
Ocean Voyages Institute plan on a second outing very soon to continue the clean up effort. The length of outing will ultimately be down to cost. Which you can help with by donating on their page here.
Mary Crowley, founder and executive director of Ocean Voyages Institute said “There is no doubt in my mind that our work is making the oceans healthier for the planet and safer for marine wildlife, as these nets will never again entangle or harm a whale, dolphin, turtle or reefs.”
This clean up is very inspiring and these are the type of projects we would like to fund in the future, here at Planet XYZ.
If you would like to help us achieve our goals at Planet XYZ, check out our “About Us” page.