Message in a Bottle

Building on the tremendous momentum of our recent voyage across the North Pacific Gyre, The Algalita Marine Research Foundation is planning another epic sailing journey from Los Angeles back to Hawaii....


On a raft built of 20,000 plastic bottles.

The journey is part 2 of a 3-phase project to raise awareness about the mounting issue of plastic debris in the ocean:

PART 1: A 4,200 mile Trans-Pacific voyage aboard the ORV Alguita, to research plastic marine debris;


PART II: Building a boat dubbed "Junk" out of 20,000 plastic bottles, and sailing from Los Angeles to Hawaii; (image here shows an earlier raft, "Plastic Poison", built by Dr. Eriksen with volunteers from Turning the Tide in Juneau, Alaska)

PART III: Riding/rafting from Vancouver to Mexico on two amphibious bikes, to give presentations and distribute ocean samples relating to plastic debris.



THE TEAM:
Here we are, from left to right: Joel Paschal, Dr. Marcus Eriksen, and Anna Cummins.


Marcus and Anna met Joel aboard the ORV Alguita, on our journey from Hawaii to Los Angeles, through the North Pacific Gyre.


Dr. Eriksen is AMRF Director of Research and Education, Anna works as Education Adviser for AMRF, as well as running Bring Your Own, and Joel, former NOAA marine debris researcher/diver, is heading up the raft construction and coordinating our footage. Yes, a documentary may be in the works......