Research Voyage To the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

The research vessel Alguita headed to the Pacific Gyre for over a month to collect samples and data. 

The making of a documentary on Ocean Plastic Pollution is underway as a research voyage is getting to the first station in the Pacific Ocean. Co-Captains Charles Moore and Dale Selvam are heading up a crew of  scientists along with embedded Marine Biologist and filmmaker, Cynthia Matzke , who is shooting on a Sony 4K camcorder.

 Cynthia is shooting for Tom Hirshberg's documentary that he is making for his foundation which is one of the supporters for this research voyage. Hirshberg is traveling on a ship from Hawaii which will meet up with the Alguita in the Pacific gyre. Cynthia has also been testing marine trash and fish for radiation levels and she will start interviewing about her findings this week;  upon the return of the research vessel I will interview her about the voyage and the findings.  I will keep everyone posted via my facebook page.  

The crew will be looking at the amount and type of plastic in the ocean as well as the health of the birds and fish. They are taking blood and other samples. This is the first research voyage to spend over a month in the gyre collecting samples from a large area of ocean waters. The data will be important to determining the health of the ocean. 

You can take part in the educational video conference, ship to shore, by going to http://www.algalita.org/2014NorthPacificGyreExpedition.html and signing up. It is happening on the 20th of July, 2014. 

 

Plastic Ocean Pollution Gathered by Captain Charles Moore on the way to the Pacific Gyre.