For a clean and thriving ocean, save the kelp forests

Last week, we did not make it to our planned destination.
Last week, we had 2 failures for every success.
Last week was a very important week for Rozalia Project, and for me personally.

Because, last week, as we dealt with weather that blocked our plans and we set off to master our equipment in preparation for the real objective, I had a revelation.

Kelp is beautiful

It turns out, I love kelp. Have you seen it outside of the coast of California? I had not, not really. Here in the Gulf of Maine, it's BEAUTIFUL; colorful with purples, yellows and greens and the most incredible motion in the undersea current. Kelp forests are fish nurseries, in fact, for all the time we spent with the ROV in the water last week, the only place we found fish in waters up to 80' was in the kelp forests. Let me repeat, the ONLY place we saw fish was in the kelp forests. We flew the ROV over the top of kelp forests (like helicoptering over the canopy of a rainforest) and we put GoPro cameras down in-between the stalks. In the evenings, we looked up the types of fish we found, learned about the ecosystem around the kelp forests and watched and re-watched the best parts of the videos.

Then, we took our underwater cameras to an area that had been bottom trawled. We do not know the exact date when that had happened but the area was essentially barren. There were a few stalks of kelp growing deep in rocky crevasses and right where the rocks and sand met (and some trash). Otherwise, it looked like a wasteland. We saw 2 fish near the few pieces of kelp that had survived or re-established themselves; only 2 fish.

Deaths that do no good - ban bottom trawling

That led me to my revelation: bottom trawling does not just need to stop in protected areas, it needs to stop, period. We've been doing some research and simply can't come up with a justification for the level of destruction that bottom trawling causes: we do not just lose the plants, we lose a whole ecosystem - the creatures who depend on the kelp to feed and grow, the creatures in the sediment who need the fish to poop, the big creatures who feed on the little ones and beyond that, bottom trawling scoops up fish, dolphins, whales and turtles who were never meant to die and whose death will not do any good.

So, we are going to expand our work. We started Expedition PROTECT to save Cashes Ledge and its kelp forest and ecosystem from a proposal to open 75% of that currently protected area to bottom trawling. And we are still on that. But, we are also going to take on protecting all kelp forests - starting with the ones in the Gulf of Maine. The only way to do that is to completely ban bottom trawling - stop the destruction of the kelp forests and the decimation of whole ecosystems.

Time to pick sides

Personally, this is a bit new. Honestly, no one has ever argued against our work with marine debris. The issue may offer lots of opportunity for discussion on whether education, remediation or research is the best way to spend one's time addressing trash in the ocean, but no one has opposed our fundamental message that marine debris is dangerous and bad for the marine environment. This issue, on the other hand, does have sides. There are people who try to downplay the negative effects of bottom trawling by saying that the technology has come a long way, that these fisheries support families and culture. We will have opponents.

Bring them on. In the case for or against bottom trawling, I am having a hard time finding arguments for it as a fishing technique. We either take the drastic steps necessary to ban bottom trawling and allow our ocean to thrive or we continue to see planet-wide, long-term loss of shocking proportion, all for the short term benefit of a few large companies and 10 minutes on a plate. People have the choice to do the right thing and adapt to a new reality; the ocean may simply not be able to bounce back - unless we take action to preserve our kelp forests!

Let's make a difference now

It starts now, we have an opportunity in the fall to save Cashes Ledge. I hope you will stand with us and support our work with a donation, with your signature, and with your ability to share and spread the word.

For a clean (and thriving) ocean,

rzm

#kelpingitreal
#protecttheocean

Scientists, researchers and ocean advocates join us for 2013 expeditions!

Hello all,

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean would like to invite scientists, researchers and ocean advocates on the subjects of marine debris, ocean pollution and climate change to join us for offshore expeditions in the North Atlantic May-July, 2013.

Rozalia Project conducts its  science expedition's from the 60' sailing research vessel American Promise. American Promise is crewed by licensed mariners, Rozalia Project staff and interns, she is capable of crossing oceans, with a maximum crew of 9 people.

Rozalia Project will be continuing its own research into marine debris and benthic habitat destruction during these 3-7 day offshore expeditions. The expeditions will be followed by over 5,000 children enrolled in marine based summer programs who will interact with the expedition and its work on a daily basis through web-based and satellite communication.

Rozalia Project is making 1-2 spaces available on each expedition for a guest scientist. Guest scientists will complete their own research alongside Rozalia Project's ongoing research and be a part of the daily interaction with our web based followers. American Promise is equipped with 2 ROV's capable down to 1000ft, side scan sonar, imaging sonar, 2 neuston nets, digital microscope.

There will be multiple, one week-long expeditions that will visit areas of the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Gulf Stream and other areas of the North Atlantic. Each guest scientist will be responsible for transportation of themselves and equipment to and from the departure location. We ask for $150/week food/supplies stipend, otherwise the spot is without charge.

Rozalia Project's selection committee will assess each application for an invitation to join Rozalia Project onboard American Promise in summer 2013.

This guest scientist program is designed to share resources, give scientists extremely low cost opportunities to conduct research, access to underwater technology and expertise, and give Rozalia Project interns exposure to high level research scientists and their methods while we all work toward a clean and healthy ocean.

For more information about Rozalia Project's guest scientist program for the summer of 2013, please email or call me. Contact details below.

We look forward to furthering ocean health with you.

For a clean ocean,

rzm

Rachael Z. Miller

Co-Founder/Executive Director

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

rachael@rozaliaproject.org

Mobile: 802-578-6120

Winter office: 802-767-3784

Web site:www.rozaliaproject.org

Blog: http://rozaliaproject.blogspot.com/

Photo Gallery on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rozaliaproject/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RozaliaProject

Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/rozaliaproject?feature=watch

To donate: http://www.rozaliaproject.org/donate/

Discovering Garbage Patches in the Gulf of Maine

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

Discovering Garbage Patches in the Gulf of Maine

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean recently conducted a research cruise on the sailing research vessel American Promise. On June 11th 2012, while on passage to Frenchboro, ME from Kittery, ME the crew of American Promise observed large accumulations of seaweed, wood and plastic floating marine debris in the area of 43° 20.50 N, 69° 50.20 W. These accumulations of organic and manmade matter extended for several miles on a northwest to southeast axis.

On the return journey from Rockland to the Isle of Shoals on June 18th 2012, we used a foam current model and sea surface temperature analysis from Tidetech to determine the potential location of marine debris accumulation. As predicted by our analysis we observed the  marine debris accumulation zone in the area of 43° 21.71N, 69° 41.11W. These marine debris accumulations again extended for several miles on a northwest to south east axis.

The Maine coastal current, as shown by the current model below, had its distal end in the area of debris accumulation. The lobe of cold water (56 degrees) is a good indicator of the presence of  the Maine coastal current. This current collects debris from the waters of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine and flows SW along the Maine coast. In the area of observed accumulation, the Maine coastal current peters out to zero,  thus becoming a probable marine debris accumulation zone. 

Tidetech Gulf of Maine Current Analysis 06.18.12 (click image to enlarge):

Tidetech Sea Surface Temperature analysis 06.18.12 (click image to enlarge):

The marine debris accumulations consisted of seaweed, wood in form of logs and branches, rope, net, plastic oil cans, plastic water bottles, lobster claw bands, Hooksett disks, plastic bags, plastic buckets, bleach containers and various miscellaneous unidentifiable  pieces of plastic (photo right).

The ability to identify accumulations of marine debris via current and temperature analysis is part of the cornerstone of Rozalia Project’s mission to clean up our oceans of this marine trash.

Rozalia Project believes that the oceans can be cleaned of manmade marine debris by identifying and locating accumulations, then using low bycatch marine debris nets remove this debris from the ocean.

Rozalia Project is currently testing a marine debris removal prototype called the Baleen Basker off the waters of the Isle of Shoals. Stay tuned on Rozalia Project’s Facebook page as well as this blog for up to date news and photos of the Baleen Basker, marine debris pick up, education and research from the surface to the seafloor.

James Lyne

Rozalia Project for a Clean ocean