Message in a Bottle: Research and Awareness Campaign
Be Part of the Journey, put Your message in the bottle!
"Junk" is carrying a large plastic bottle filled with messages from students and individuals across the nation. Messages received so far will travel across the Pacific Ocean in our raft. When we return, more messages will be added and they will travel down the entire West Coast next fall. These messages are letters to be delivered to local and state legislators.
Message in a Bottle
Message in a Bottle is a three-part campaign to raise awareness about plastic debris in the marine environment.
Part I: Research Vessel Gets Samples from the Gyre
With a crew of 6, the Algalita Marine Research Foundation completed a 4,200-mile expedition from Hawaii to Los Angeles to study plastic marine debris in the North Pacific Gyre, and collect samples of the plastic soup accumulating on the ocean surface.
Part II: A Raft Built on Plastic Bottles Sails to Hawaii
Departing from Los Angeles on June 2nd for Hawaii, Algalita staff set sail on "Junk," a raft built on 15,000 plastic bottles. Their 2,100 mile journey will take them through the plastic-plagued Northern Pacific Gyre. Designed by Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal, the raft boasts an airplane fuselage, discarded fishing nets, a solar generator, and a wind turbine. This ambitious journey will bring further public attention to the plastic marine debris issue.
Part III: Bike the West Coast Delivering Ocean Samples to Legislators
AMRF staff will ride from Vancouver to Mexico on two amphibious bicycles, giving presentations about plastic marine debris and delivering samples of the plastic soup directly to educators, organizations, and policymakers.