South Pacific Expedition To Study Ocean Plastic
An all-female crew set sail from Auckland this morning to investigate the ocean plastic crisis. The expedition has observed negative effects including microplastics found in shellfish. One crew member, a recipient of the Ex Expedition bursary for Oahuine Maori, noted the personal significance of the area for fishing and diving. The project aims to document environmental changes in the region. The amount of plastic in the ocean rose from 2014 levels to an estimated 171 trillion pieces by 2023. Taylor Madeline, Science and Research Lead for the Ex Expedition Crew from the University of Georgia, stated that a dump truck worth of plastic enters the ocean every minute. This pollution is having major impacts on human health and the environment. UK marine scientist Rowan Henforn is leading the South Pacific Expedition to study ocean plastic pollution.
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Sources · 7 independent
“And all female voyage investigating the ocean plastic crisis has set sail from Auckland this morning.”
“plastic crisis has set sail from Auckland this morning. the all-female c-”
“the all-female c- Great Barrier Island, the Bay of Islands and then on to Tongna. It's all organised by a UK-based non-profit expedition which leads research missions internationally.”
“We're actually doing a global study mapping plastic pollution back to sources on land. So we have lots of different trips planned all around the world over the next few years.”
“An international crew of 10 women including one New Zealanders sailed out of Auckland today on an expedition to trace plastic in the ocean.”
“The South Pacific expedition which Jessica Hopkins spoke to crew members on board Ex Expedition's steel boat before they left. At Auckland's West Haven marina, recent Otago University graduate, Rauhino Weikara, was preparing to go to sea.”
“The crew is sailing through Wikarizrohi of Natiwai where she's seen the negative impacts of plastic first hand including microplastics being found in shellfish.”
“By 2023, that figure soared to an estimated 171 trillion. The Ex Expedition Crew's Science and Research Lead, Dr Taylor Madeline... says plastic ending up in the ocean is having major impacts on human health and the environment.”
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