Event Title
Message in a Plastic Bottle; Marine Debris in Puget Sound
Presentation Abstract
Current estimates calculate that there are more than five trillion pieces of plastic floating in the world’s oceans. Annual plastic production worldwide is almost 300 million metric tons, much of it going into into single-use or “disposable” products. As much as 12 million metric tons a year is washed out to sea, joining the enormous cloud of plastic that is already there. The same plastic-related problems that exist in the oceans can be found in the Salish Sea, with plastic fibers and fragments being detected in local shellfish as well as in water and the sediment samples. In an effort to increase understanding and to engage the public, a kayak was constructed out of discarded plastic bottles and paddled from Olympia to Bellingham, serving as a data collection platform as well as a metaphor for the problem. The project was a unique blend of adventure and information and presented people along the route with the facts about marine debris in Puget Sound and options on how to get involved with this issue, from beach cleanups to art to citizen science. Students from various communities collaborated on trip projects, both during and after the voyage. Specifics of the 150-mile, 14-day trip included static water sampling for microplastics, with an average of 16 pieces of plastic per liter. Further data collection included 4 standing stock beach surveys, using NOAA protocol, that documented plastic and other debris in selected quadrats in north Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. The trip also included 5 presentations en route, with 275 people in attendance, and 5 beach cleanups at points along the way. It is critical that the public understand the threats that plastic poses to the marine environment, and how each individual can have a positive impact on the health of the Salish Sea.
Session Title
Plastic in the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Fate and Effects of Pollutants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Marine debris--Washington (State)--Puget Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Message in a Plastic Bottle; Marine Debris in Puget Sound
2016SSEC
Current estimates calculate that there are more than five trillion pieces of plastic floating in the world’s oceans. Annual plastic production worldwide is almost 300 million metric tons, much of it going into into single-use or “disposable” products. As much as 12 million metric tons a year is washed out to sea, joining the enormous cloud of plastic that is already there. The same plastic-related problems that exist in the oceans can be found in the Salish Sea, with plastic fibers and fragments being detected in local shellfish as well as in water and the sediment samples. In an effort to increase understanding and to engage the public, a kayak was constructed out of discarded plastic bottles and paddled from Olympia to Bellingham, serving as a data collection platform as well as a metaphor for the problem. The project was a unique blend of adventure and information and presented people along the route with the facts about marine debris in Puget Sound and options on how to get involved with this issue, from beach cleanups to art to citizen science. Students from various communities collaborated on trip projects, both during and after the voyage. Specifics of the 150-mile, 14-day trip included static water sampling for microplastics, with an average of 16 pieces of plastic per liter. Further data collection included 4 standing stock beach surveys, using NOAA protocol, that documented plastic and other debris in selected quadrats in north Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands. The trip also included 5 presentations en route, with 275 people in attendance, and 5 beach cleanups at points along the way. It is critical that the public understand the threats that plastic poses to the marine environment, and how each individual can have a positive impact on the health of the Salish Sea.
Comments
This project was a part of my Master's Thesis (MSES, Green Mountain College); I also have a 22-minute film. The film is online at: https://vimeo.com/123829921