Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Day 13- Plastic in a mahi mahi

Day 13 Noon position 23°45'54.00"N 147°26'38.40"W
June 22, 2009
Chrisitana and Jeff each reeled in a mahi mahi today, one right after the other. The fish served a double purpose, science and sustenance. Before we filleted the fish, Christiana took muscle and liver samples of each of the fish and looked in their stomachs. Fish number 3, the mahi mahi that Jeff reeled in, contained what the Captain confirmed via microscope as a piece of plastic film. This now makes 8 species of fish in which we have identified with plastic in their gut.

The last set of trawls came in at 5pm. It was a productive, though hectic, sampling marathon. Although the samples have yet to be thoroughly analyzed, we were able to spot differing densities of plastic within and outside of the boundaries of the plankton (and possibly debris) accumulation zone. At the end of a long stint of sampling and a significant find of plastic in a common food fish, the Captain prepared one of his specialties chili rellenos accompanied by rice, beans, fresh guacamole, and fresh salsa. It was a perfect end to a productive day. We are now en route to Hawai’I with aboiut 400 miles to go.

Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check out the Scientific American website in the “60 second science blog”, where Drew ‘s weekly account of our voyage is posted.

ANSWERS TO STUDENT QUESTIONS

Regarding the question to Joel about the JUNKraft from State Street Elementary:

"I built and sailed the JUNK Raft with Marcus Eriksen who had built a bottle boat and floated down the Mississppi River a few years ago. We thought that building an ocean going bottle raft and sailing it from Long Beach to Hawaii would be a great way to bring attention to the problem of plastic pollution in our oceans .

Your right unfortunately birds are sometimes caught in fishing gear. Part of the federal government called the National Marine Fisheries Service helps fishermen design fishing gear that minimizes the number of birds that get caught.

Sometimes I do get seasick. I’m taking medicine while on the ORV Alguita that keeps me from getting too sick. On the JUNK raft I didn’t have to take any medicine because the JUNK was so slow and steady." Joel Paschal- ORV Alguita Crew

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

East Hills 4-H
San Leandro CA
Clay age 13

Thanks for providing the visualization for what 300,000 pieces of plastic per km2 is. I know there shouldn't be any plastic out there but an analogy of one cheerio in a bathtub does not seem like a lot. I am trying to do the math and figure out how many bowls of cheerios of plastic debris we can expect from your trawling. You said you are doing an 80 nautical mile transect. Can you explain what this transect is? Do you go back an forth over an 80 nautical mile area? I did convert 80 nautical miles and found out it is 148.61 km (92 miles).

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes, CA
Christopher, Kendall, Gabby

First of all, we think it's really cool that you guys want to help clean the ocean. We just wanted to know how much litter do you guys normally collect in a day? We have had a blast following you on these blogs. Thanks for all of your help!

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermediate School
Palos Verdes,CA
Brittany age 11,Zack age 13,and Sam age 12.

We are doing a project for summer school and our group would like to know if you have had any shark encounters?
We would also like to know if you have found any other items other then plastic.

Thanks! Please Respond! :)

Anonymous said...

miraleste intermediate
palos verdes,california
Riley 6th,keir 8th,emily 8th
Dear orv,
What was the most interesting thing that you have found.

signed,
Miraleste kids

Anonymous said...

Miraleste int. school
Palos Verdes ,CA
Milan, Nic, Monica

Why did you want tpo look for plastic?

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermediate PV, CA
From:Dennis(7th),Megan(8th), Tessa(6th)

To Crew,

What is the most common garbage found in the ocean and the animals?

Thank you for all your work!

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermediate School
Palos Verdes, CA
Katelyn, Prashila, and Diego

So far, of all the places that you've been, which one had the most trash? Also, about how much trash do you collect in one week?

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes,CA
Leslie,Isela,Kevin

How much plastic have you found on htis whole expedition?What is the most common type you have found?What inspired you to go on this voyage?

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermediate School
Palos Verdes, CA


Holland, Robert, and Brianna

What is the biggest problem you guys face out there in the middle of the ocean?

:)) :D

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes, California
Elizabeth, Matthew, Vanessa

Q:Do you see single pieces of plastic or chunks of plastic.

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermideate School
Califronia, RPV
Hi we are students from Palos Verdes and we would like to ask u a couple questios of your voyage :)

1) What is your favorite part of the voyage so far?

2) What inspired you to go on this voyage?

We think it is very interesting what your doing, and we are sure it is quite beautiful where you are. We hope to get a comment back.

Sincerely and hope for the best,
students :)

Anonymous said...

MIraleste Intermediate School
Palos Verdes CA

Thank you so much for helping our oceans and protecting the wildlife of the sea. We have a question for you. I waant to know how much litter of trash do you find in one fish.
Mark the shark, Jasmin, and Blake.

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos verdes, CA
Taylure, Fiona

To joel:

How did you get the ides of making a palstic bottle boat?

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Intermediate
Palos Verdes, California
Jacqueline(age 13)Steven(13)Kaitlin(10)
We think it's really great what you guys are doing to help the environment! thanks so much for it. What is the most commonly found plastic you've found and what are you going to do about it? Please consider answering our question on your next blog.thank you.

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes, CA
Payton,11 and Hannah,13

We are in Marine Biology at school and we have some questions!

Do you know where the plastic was from? Such as a water bottle or plastic bag.

Was their a whole colony of Mahi Mahi where you were at?

Thanks! Please reply!

Anonymous said...

Miralste Int. School
Palos Verdes, CA
Jonathan,Sofie,Cheyenne

You guys are very nice to the ocean and the marine animals. What spot in the ocean has the most plastic or trash?? We appriciate all that you guys have done, keep up with the good work. =)

Anonymous said...

Miraleste int. schoool
Palos Verdes, CA
Emily 11, Macy 12, and Jessica 11


How do you idenify plastic in a fish stomach? Anyway thank for all your hard work!

Anonymous said...

miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes,CA
Jared,Daniela,Christiana

How long is your voyage going to last?

Anonymous said...

miralest Int. school
palos verdes, CA
Lizzy, Henry

why did did you only dissect mahi mahi. also what do you do on your free time. the last thing is when you when scuba diving did you see any interesting fish.

Anonymous said...

Miraleste Int. School
Palos Verdes, CA
Kristen,Tyler,Jennifer

First of all we think it is really cool of you guys to help animals and the ocean environment.
How much plastic have you guys found in fish and the surrounding area?
Thank You

Anonymous said...

miraleste,pv california, Charlie


what company has the most plastic polluters in the ocean?