Emerald Water and a Jelly Blob

The Gulf of Mexico off Ft. Walton is an incredibly beautiful emerald green. And the dunes have a lovely, sweet fragrance. I was not expecting either when I stepped onto the beach on Santa Rosa Island. I had an hour before the start of an Easter Sunday marine debris program at Ft. Walton Yacht Club and wanted to see a beach, check out the water and see what kind of trash there might be (the usual beach visit, really).

Luckily, first came the delightful flowery smell and then the green water and then the fine, white sand... and then the trash.

In this case I walked around 75 yards along the high tide line and back. There was too much to carry so I have to say it was handy that my finds included a shrimper basket. It was ALL plastic: a hard hat, several water bottles, beach toys and some plastic wrappers.

After a nice trash walk along the beach (is that an oxymoron?), I loaded the basket intothe rental car and headed to the yacht club. Ft. Walton YC is on a pretty spit of land with water on 3 sides, a big dining room and patio, lots of boats (more sail than power) and some lovely people psyched to see what was lurking under their docks. Thanks to George and Dave, we had a tent, power and everything we needed and launched the ROV into some of the clearest water in which I have had the pleasure to pilot.

The theme of the trash at the bottom of the basin was by far BEER. Maybe some other beverages as well but mostly beer cans and beer cups. There were several areas withbunches of cups and cans. Apart from that, the bottom was relatively clean and we removed a bunch of cups as well as a piece of PVC tube.

The most interesting find was... I am not sure. It must be a jelly fish but we could not find tentacles or see the internal organs. It looks like a balloon but was definitely organic and had mud stuck to it. We are looking for an identification... any ideas out there?

We spent some time with the participants having a go flying the ROV on the surface and found some naturals among the sailors (kids and adults). Lots of smooth flying and no collisions! When we wrapped up, I was especially psyched that local sailor, Robin and her husband took the plastic I brought back from the beach home to be recycled.

Overall, it was a great afternoon. I am looking forward to identifying the jelly blob and hopefully going back some day for more underwater trash hunting and this time maybe a swim in those gorgeous green waters and a sail in the bay.

Stay tuned for next week's adventure in the mid-west: Wayzata Community Sailing and Lake Minnetonka. The evening program is open to the public, check out the

Rozalia Project Facebook page for details.

Four minutes on a beach in Massachusetts

Just before heading to Hawaii, we (me, James, Hickory and Smudge) agreed that we all needed a dose of salt air and to revisit some of the beaches that we walked (and cleaned) at about the same time last year. So, we packed up the PB & J, doggie treats and sunglasses and headed east for the coast. Here is what we found...

Owl's Head Light, Rockland, ME: This is a beautiful park with perfect New England lighthouse and several beaches with different exposures. After climbing the lighthouse steps (and

doing a little photo shoot with the boys), we decided to check out the beach that faced northeast. My first comment was that I did not see much trash and we started to speculate that maybe there had not been much northeasterly breeze lately. And then we started walking. This beach hid its trash very well. While there was not heaps, in the course of a walk along it's short length and back, we found the following assortment of the usual (see photo right) plus a one, left, pink, cougar-spotted Croc.

Our next stop in Cape Ann and the same little rocky beach north of the

town of Rockport, MA that we visited last year. Here, we

found a similar assortment of debris as last year with a

touch less in the way of bait bags/rubber bands and more rope. The items shown in the photo far right were collected in 4 minutes of walking the beach. Yikes. We also noticed something else... broken up pieces of plastic somewhat evenly distributed within the sandy seaweed line right at the water's edge (as opposed to the bigger pieces of trash up on the rocky, sloping part of the beach). It is not hard to see that the wave action on the rocks along with photodegradation is responsible for this but after the Marine Debris Conference (see last 2 posts), I have a much more specific and vivid idea of how those little pieces of plastic

can make their way into sea bird and fish bellies. At the conference, it was easy to assign microplastics as a feature of the gyres, after the plastic bottles, forks, bags, buoys, etc. have traveled many miles on ocean currents. And while the center of the gyres may have shocking concentrations of microplastic, our own local shores are not immune.

It is all good inspiration as we push forward with plans for the Trash Tour. I am adding each stop to the Rozalia Project Facebook page starting with two exciting events. Kicking off the early season is an Easter marine debris dockside program at the Fort Walton Yacht Club on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. Next, we're recognizing that marine debris is a universal problem and heading to the Wayzata Community Sailing Center to see what we can find on the bottom of Lake Minnetonka. I can't wait to get out there with the ROV and sonars again!

Stay tuned. News should be coming in thick and fast now that the snow is melting.

rzm

Processing the info and a perfect swim

With the 5th International Marine Debris Conference one week gone, I am still processing the volumes of information I learned there, figuring out how to incorporate new info into our message and programs and sending emails to the amazing people I met so we can stay in touch.

Looking back, here are some more highlights from the conference:

• There are additions to MARPOL Annex V. This piece of international law prohibits plastic from being dumped overboard in the world's oceans. Until (hopefully) this summer, it still allowed for a fair amount of types of trash and materials to go overboard. The new version will require that ALL ships (from cruise and container ships down to private yachts) keep their trash onboard to be recycled or properly disposed of on land. Yipppeeeee.
• The Chesapeake Bay sees a loss of 25% of their crab pots per year. They estimate that 4% of the annual catch of this multi-million dollar fishery is wasted due to ghost fishing. It puts some perspective on the consequence of line cutters on props and the need for attentive boathandling in some of the densely fished areas to find a balance.
• A study on derelict lobster gear in Maine found one trap that had been lost in 1996 and was still killing lobsters. They are not seeing quite the same high yearly percentage of trap loss (closer to 10%) but there is still potential for significant effect on the fishery.We are looking forward to helping to determine just what the situation is on the sea floor off the coast of Maine concerning derelict fishing gear as well as other trash this summer.
• There was a lot of discussion at the conference about finding marine debris, figuring out how to pick it up and what the trash, especially plastic, does when it mixes with creatures from sea birds to the great whales. But it was also discussed that 70-80% of marine debris comes from land-based sources. And because of that, there was also a lot of excellent discussion on preventing it in the first place through education and packaging. One presenter suggested some more R's to add to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Refuse, Return, Remove, Recover, Re-Educate and Re-Engineer.... Right on.

Overall, it was an extremely valuable 6 days both for the information, the opportunity to present Rozalia Project and what we are doing and our methods, the people and the inspiration. The crew from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and UNEP Environment Program did an incredible job of informing, herding, entertaining and feeding 440

people from 35 countries. Out of this conference comes the Honolulu Commitment (endorsed by all attendees) and the Honolulu Strategy (soon to be finalized), standardized data cards for debris monitoring and pick up (hopefully) and connections and ideas that will reduce marine debris and the damage it is doing across the world both at sea and on land.

The conference ended with a few extra treats. First, during the final lunch, we had a 3

song serenade by Jack Johnson. I think his voice is better in person than recorded and he is a big supporter the ocean and its cleanliness.

For me, however, the real treat came on the morning of the day I flew back to Vermont. The Nygards, my amazing hosts, took me up to the North Shore. We checked out some famous surf spots: Pipeline and Sunset both of which had small waves but were beautiful. We went to some really cool local art fairs and met some talented Hawaiian craftspeople.

And then we went to Waimea Bay. And I had one of the best ocean swims ever. It was

uncharacteristically flat as a pancake. The water was an indescribable clear, clear, blue-green and the deeper we dove, the more clear the whale songs and the dolphin clicks. We never saw the animals, but could hear them loud and clear. Amazing. Honestly, I did not need any additional inspiration after the week at the conference. But if I did, hearing the whales and dolphins, was it.

Of plastics, the sea and flip flop art

Since last post, I have been to a lot of sessions about plastic, its forms, its names, its properties and its effects on the sea and creatures from microbes to sea birds to humans. The theme is that there is a lot of research still to be done to pinpoint the exact effects but there are also a few points that are getting repeated concerning plastic:

• Sea birds, fish and other creatures are ingesting it. One presenter found a fish that was 2.5" long and had 83 pieces of microplastic in its stomach.
• Plastics both give off (leech) and absorb chemicals that are known to be toxic.
• The processes of bio accumulation and bio magnification are in play (magnifying the amount of plastic in animals as you go up the food chain).
• Plastic is an important fact of our daily lives, however, we must do everything we can to keep it out of our oceans.

Tomorrow morning, I am looking forward to a session with representatives from both

Coca Cola and the American Chemistry Council talking about partnerships to address the fact that no one wants their product ending up in the seas.

To balance out the somewhat alarming information about plastics and photos of seabird and fish stomachs full of plastic pellets, I had a wander around the Sixth Gyre: Art, Oceans and Plastic Pollution exhibit. Best to let the art do the talking but there were some cool and clever uses for everything from toothbrushes to some incredible sculptures made from found flip flop foam.

Lastly, I signed off the last post with my excitement over going for a swim. And it was beautiful. I love swimming. I love swimming in a clear, blue, warm, windy ocean. I love swimming in a clear, blue, warm, windy, fish-filled, trash-free because-there-are-a-lot-of-motivated-people-psyched-and-ready-to-do-something-about-the-problem ocean.

Tomorrow is the last day of the conference.

There will not be another for at least 4 years, so I need to sponge up everything I can.

rzm

The trash all looks the same

I am here in Honolulu for the 5th International Marine Debris Conference, and am a lucky and better person for it. I have learned an incredible amount and met smart, amazing people who are as dedicated as they are able to get on and deal with the problems of marine debris. And we are only at the start of the middle day

There are people here presenting on projects and studies happening all over the world and I have to say that one striking observation is that I have now seen hundreds of photos of beaches with piles of trash and debris... and they all look the same. A gear ball on a beach in Korea looks the same as those found in the NW islands of Hawaii, or in Maryland, or by me and James on the beaches of Rockport, MA last week. One consistent message here is that it is one ocean and we are all connected. I knew that, but seeing the photos puts out some good supporting evidence.

Some highlights so far:

-A presentation by Jean-Michel Cousteau. He is (appropriately) pissed about the state of the oceans but has some incredible experiences he shared and an overall message of hope. AND I got to have a chat and a photo with him. I would have been happy to meet any member of the Cousteau family including the family dog, but having a chat with the man who is carrying on Jacques Cousteau's mission was very cool.

-A workshop on the hydrodynamics of marine debris taught by some of the brightest oceanographers in the world. Some of what I learned will directly help our research coming up this summer looking for increased accumulation zones around the Eastern Maine Coastal Current and I have a new appreciation for statistics classes.

-A presentation by Amber York from WHOI (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute) on a project called HabCam which is an incredibly high resolution camera towed behind a boat. She showed evidence of plastic bottles and other similar debris we find 70+ miles offshore. That is something we are looking forward to doing more work on investigating.

-Presentations by Kara Lavender-Law and other scientists from SEA (Sea Education

Association) on their work on micro-plastics in the North Atlantic. Check it out in the Journal Science. And it is cool that so long ago on Westward-111, I helped gather some of the data (plastic) they used in their study.

There is so much more... a marine debris art exhibit, presentation from the Ocean Conservancy, and just meeting people from all over the world who feel the same way I do about the ocean and trash in it.

Today I have a workshop on outreach efforts and spreading accurate and inspiring information about the problem followed by marine debris movie night. I can't wait... but first my awesome hosts are taking me swimming off Diamond Head. I will say hello to the fishes for all of you and send another report soon.

For a clean ocean,

rzm

Wanted: Changemaker/Intern

Job Title: Changing the World- with a little bit of everything else thrown in

Job Summary: skills required

1. Ability to change the world (clean the oceans, inspire others, inspire yourself, become a world recognized environmental leader)
2. Educator: lead marine debris education programs at each tour stop
3. Scientist: Help collect and collate marine debris data during Tour and research expedition
4. Sailor: Help sail and stand watch on Rozalia Project's 60ft sailboat, American Promise, during the Tour
5. Cook: Lead in meal preparation. Crew and guests will be responsible to help with prep, cooking and cleaning under your leadership.
6. Voyage supply coordinator: Prepare menu, conduct provisioning of supplies
7. Jack of all trades: We are a small organization, so from the founder/director downwards on any one day we can be found cleaning the toilet to driving ROV'S or up to our elbows in grease in the engine compartment. P.S. please do not be afraid of dirt, our mission is to pick up trash.
8. Must like dogs as 2 of the crew members are Newfoundlands, Smudge and Hickory. They are super friendly and only eat the occasional small child.

Remuneration: $200/week plus bed, food (when on American Promise) and all the adventure, experience and dog you can handle.

Dates: June 22 – End of August (with opportunities to continue through the end of October).

Location: Starts in Albany, NY sailing down the Hudson, across Long Island Sound and along the New England Coast. See www.rozaliaproject.org for full Tour Schedule.

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean is a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to find and remove marine debris from our oceans, bays, rivers and waterways through action, technology, outreach and research.

The Rozalia Project Trash Tour 2011 is a multi-stop marine debris removal project. The tour will be conducted from Rozalia Project’s mothership American Promise, a 60’ sailing research vessel equipped with state-of-the-art, surface to sea floor trash hunting technology: 2 remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), side scan sonar, imaging sonar and an image enhancement system along with hand-held and towed nets used for surface and mid-water column marine debris collection. She is ready to implement and achieve Rozalia Project’s Trash Tour objectives:

• Remove a projected 9.4 tons in approximately 29,550 individual pieces of marine debris from the environment
• Educate and inspire a projected 5,000 people who will visit the boat or take part in dockside and onboard marine debris programs at community waterfront centers throughout NY, Long Island Sound and New England
• Conduct the following scientific study: Using tidelines, convergences and eddies in the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC) to locate accumulation zones of marine debris

The tour will cover 1,765 nautical miles and 24,231 acres as we search and clean-up the marine environment.

For more information about Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean and the Trash Tour 2011 see www.rozaliaproject.org or rozaliaproject.blogspot.com

Still interested and psyched to be part of an exciting project and adventure that will make a difference? Please send a letter, resume and references to:

Rachael Miller or James Lyne

rachael@rozaliaproject.org

Office: 802-767-3784

Mobile: 802-578-6120

Announcing Rozalia Project's Trash Tour 2011

Big snow yesterday and big news today. We have finally and officially launched the Trash Tour 2011 with the following press release. I have been in planning mode for several months and now everything is starting to pick up. We have received our 501(c)(3) non-profit determination letter, we have a new logo (so excited) and after a great US Sailing National Sailing Programs Symposium where I had the honor to present to the entire conference, we have lots of interest for the coming summer.

I expect to have news and stories coming thick and fast as we head for the spring. For now, here is the press release. Please pass it on, look at your schedule and join us this summer at a stop or even better as part of the crew. Enjoy the snow (but get psyched about the summer)...

For Immediate Release:

Rachael Z. Miller

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

Office: 802-767-3784

Cell: 802-578-6120

rachael@rozaliaproject.org

www.rozaliaproject.org

Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean launches the Rozalia Project Trash Tour 2011.

The Rozalia Project and its world famous mothership, American Promise, is coming to clean marine debris from the local waters of New England in 2011.

Fifteen community sailing centers, yacht clubs, maritime museums and businesses from New York to Down East Maine have partnered with the Rozalia Project to host American Promise and get the local community involved in hands on clean up, and marine debris education programs.

Trash Tour 2011 locations:

Scarano Boatyard, Port of Albany NY: June 24th

Portside, Brooklyn, NY: June 27-28

The Waterfront Center, Oyster Bay, NY: June 29 – July 1

Providence Community Boating, RI: July 5-7

Herreshof Museum, Bristol, RI: July 8-10

Sail Newport, Newport, RI: July 11-13

New Bedford Community Sailing, New Bedford MA: July 14-16

Eastern and Pleon Yacht Clubs, Marblehead, MA: July 18-20

American Promise Celebration, Marblehead, MA: July 19

Courageous Sailing, Boston, MA: July 21-23

Dates to be confirmed at:

Tabor Academy, Marion, MA

Nantucket Community Sailing Center, MA

Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club, ME

North East Harbor Sailing Center, ME

Eighty percent of all marine debris, especially plastics, blows or washes from the land into our harbors and coastal waters. From harbors it migrates its way into the great gyres of the oceans, where it breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, poisoning the water, wildlife, sea bed, and food chain with toxins. The Rozalia Project is targeting marine debris, especially plastic, that is in our harbors and coastal waters. This marine debris is relatively young, having just been blown or washed into our waters and tends to still be whole or in big, collectable pieces. We can make a dent in the problem of marine debris by collecting plastic before it degrades into uncollectible microscopic pieces.

There is a solution: pick it up on land and in the water. We can make a difference.

At each tour stop, Rozalia Project will run engaging and informative marine debris pick up and education programs dockside and onboard American Promise for people of all ages. Participants will have the opportunity to hunt for and pick up trash from the surface to the sea floor using nets as well as remotely operated vehicles (ROV) equipped with sonar and manipulators (to grab the trash). In addition, Rozalia Project will conduct side scan and ROV surveys of each harbor during trash pick up and education programs.

All marine debris removed from the ocean will be recorded and sorted for recycling and safe disposal on land.

About Rozalia Project: Rozalia Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit whose mission is to find and remove marine debris from oceans, seas, lakes and rivers through action, technology, outreach and research.

Rozalia Project was founded by Rachael Z. Miller and James Lyne in 2010. Rachael and James have spent their lives on the water, from studying marine mammals to racing at the Americas Cup, they have witnessed marine debris especially plastics polluting our oceans, lakes and rivers from New Zealand to the coast of Maine and everywhere in-between.

It was during a vacation on an island 25 miles off the coast of Maine, it's coastline covered in marine debris, that the light bulb went off for Rachael and James. There, they decided to do something about the problem of marine debris. That something was to "clean it up" and the Rozalia Project was born.

Who is Rozalia? Rozalia was Rachael’s great grandmother who crossed the Atlantic Ocean with her daughter Anne (Rachael’s grandmother) to avoid religious persecution in their homeland of the Ukraine. They entered the United States through Ellis Island to the American promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They both lived long, fulfilled and happy lives and their love of the ocean and belief that one person can make a difference was passed down to Rachael.

In 2010 Rozalia Project conducted several marine debris clean up and education programs in Boston (Community Boating), Providence (Community Boating), Newport (Sail Newport) and on Lake Champlain (Community Sailing Center). Volumes of trash were recovered and over 475 people participated in Rozalia Project’s programs.

Rozalia Project are specialists in underwater clean up, using 2 remotely operated vehicles equipped with video, manipulator arms and imaging sonar that can locate and pick up debris and bring it back to the surface. Rozalia Project has a side scan sonar that is used to survey whole areas for debris, so that we can pinpoint locations to launch the ROV’s and pick up the debris.

Rozalia Project's mothership is the round the world voyager, American Promise. This 60ft sailboat was built for ocean voyages and is the perfect vehicle for marine debris removal and research. Scientists to the general public can come on trash expeditions researching and removing debris.

You can make a difference. Volunteer or donate to the Rozalia Project.

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