Friday, February 5, 2010

Near The Center of Sargasso Sea

We’re near the center of the Sargasso Sea at 28N,50W. It’s just about as far from land that you can get in the North Atlantic. Yesterday we found a windrow filled with patches of sargassum and plastic. Everything you could imagine finding in your local department store was bobbing in the sea, the EASTERN GARBAGE PATCH. (above Marcus and Anna examine plastic pollution collected from the "Eastern Garbage Patch")

Then we came upon a bucket. Anna and John brought it aboard, only to find something violently wriggling inside. There was a trigger fish far larger than the opening of the bottle! Who know how long it had been in there, destined to be entombed there. We found plenty more pieces of plastic – toothbrush, crates, buckets, bottle caps, shoes, glove, plenty of fishing gear, and a boxing mouthpiece. “What are you going to do with the fish?” someone asked. I explained that one question we want to find out is, “Who is eating plastic bottles?” We would keep the fish for stomach analysis, but only if I promised not to waste the fillets, which we later ate for dinner.

Trigger fish have a really bad overbite. The teeth of a trigger fish are designed for biting little things. They have small sharp teeth that can snatch a shrimp from the sargassum, or a barnacle from floating debris, or a triangular fragment off a plastic bottle. Looking closely at the bite marks on a plastic bottle, one can see two little dimples above the triangular bite. These are the two upper teeth. The lower teeth, oriented to form a sharp triangular edge, rip a fragment off the bottle.

Though we haven’t observed this, the teeth seem to match the bite marks. There are no other fish present. I don’t think small birds or turtles have the power to be contenders for this feat either. I’m confident we’ve identified another species of fish mistaking our plastic waste for food. One more reason why we need to rethink how we use plastic.
Replies to student questions and comments

Q: Hi, my name is Jerie and I am a senior at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida. My question is: How much plastic are you expecting to see while crossing the Sargasso Sea, and how are you going to deal with all the seaweed when collecting plastic samples?

A: Hi Jerie, Anna here, thanks for your message. We knew we’d find plastic in the Sargasso, but we weren’t sure exactly how much. We’ve been to the North Pacific Gyre to study plastic with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, and have seen everything from toothbrushes, suitcases, toys, and plastic bottles floating in the middle of the ocean.

Though this is our first time in the Atlantic, other people have studied the Sargasso Sea, and we know they have found areas around Bermuda and the Virgin Islands where plastic pollution floats, getting trapped in Sargassum, a brown algae that floats on the surface of the Sargasso. Now we’ve had a chance to see for ourselves, and sadly we’ve seen a lot of plastic here as well. Just yesterday, we came across a few big patches of this Sargassum, with tons of plastic trapped tangled inside – bottle caps, shoes, shotgun shells, crates, buckets, a toothbrush – even a plastic mouthpiece for a boxer! It was a lot like what we’ve seen in the Pacific.

Good question about how we deal with the Sargassum: as you can imagine, our samples are often full of this seaweedy plant after dragging our nets across the surface. So we’ll dump our entire sample into a large bucket, wash the plastic particles off, strain all the plastic into a cloth bag, and freeze it. Though it can be time consuming, the best part is seeing all the strange and beautiful creatures that live in the Sargassum – tiny squid, shrimp, flying fish, baby eels, and other amazing organisms – we’ll write more about these later.

Q: Hi, My name is Karleen and I just wanted to ask How old I have to be, to be a part of this crew? I would honestly love to be a part of this! It's amazing what you guys do. It's a wonderful thing actually, saving the sea creatures who are in need sounds exciting, except the part where you see them with a stomach full of plastics... So what do I have to do, to be a part of this? It's a really interesting and cool organiztion actually.. It's amazing how that turtle survived after 7 years with that peice of plastic around it. It is truly wonderful for you guys to help all the sea creatures who are in need of help. You guys are wonderful =D George Washington High School, Mangilao, Guam /Junior/Karleen.


A: Hi George Washington High School! Karleen, thanks so much for your message, great to hear that you’re interested in this kind of work! You’re never too young to get involved in environmental issues – and we’d love to work with you and your school more directly. Our youngest crew member right now is 19 – after graduating from high school, he decided to spend a year learning about ocean issues and doing research on a sailboat before going on to college. But you don’t need to be 19, or spend a year at sea....

The best thing you can do is start learning on your own – do some research on the internet, talk to your teachers, ask lots of questions, find some articles/books and see what you can find out about ocean issues. Then you might see how you can make some changes in your school or community - talk to other students, and share what you’ve learned. We’ve worked with two school groups in Los Angeles – Green Ambassadors and Team Marine that might have good ideas for you – let us know if you’d like to get in touch with them. Next year, we’re having a big conference in LA, bringing young people together from around the world to talk about plastic pollution. Maybe you can join us, so do keep in touch!

Q: Why are only some plastics made biodegradable? Also, how long do you normally leave the trawls in the water, and what are expecting/hoping to find on this trip? Christina-11th grade-River Ridge High School, Florida

A: Hi Cristina, Biodegradable plastics sound like a perfect solution, but there are still some problems with them. First, most bioplastics are not designed to break down in the ocean – they need a very hot, commercial composting environment. Also, bioplastics are generally made from GMO crops that are grown with pesticides and herbicides, which create other environmental problems. And bioplastics are still more expensive to produce, so many people want the cheaper option of petroleum plastics.

Still, as more people figure out innovative ways to make environmentally friendly, marine degradable plastics, they will start to become cheaper. Your best bet is still to use reusables, and avoid single use plastics when you can.

As for our trawls: we’re hoping to complete a “mega transect”, sampling at least every fifty to one hundred miles, and leaving our nets out for three hours at a time. When we pull them up, they are usually full of Sargassum, bits of plastic, and a bunch of fascinating marine creatures.

Responses from crew member Anna Cummins

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello, my name is Jerod from river ridge high school. I heard that there are not that many large mahi mahi's left in the ocean. Can you inform me if this is a true statement or a if it is different. Thank you Jerod

Palos Verdes High School said...

Hi from Palos Verdes High in Palos Verdes Estates California. We are enjoying the blog, and are looking forward to hearing about the trigger fish and the plastic bottle and seeing more pictures. We would like to know how you plan to use the data you collect. Will your data be published somewhere? If so, where? Also, what is the most unusual organism or scenario you have encountered on these research trips. Thank you, the students at PVHS

Anonymous said...

6th grade magnet students from South Gate Middle School, CA

Hello this is Silvia and Brandy. We would like to know if you think you can actually take out all of the plastic in the ocean? How long do you think it would take to do it? Will you be bringing up algae and other bacteria along with the plastic oh and one more thing, my partner would like to know if she could have some trigger fish. Thank You! :) :D :P

Anonymous said...

6th grade magnet students from South Gate Middle School, CA

Hello this is Silvia and Brandy. We would like to know if you think you can actually take out all of the plastic in the ocean? How long do you think it would take to do it? Will you be bringing up algae and other bacteria along with the plastic oh and one more thing, my partner would like to know if she could have some trigger fish. Thank You! :) :D

Anonymous said...

Hey how does the garbage and plastic get in the water????? School:Christensen middle school. Country: USA. Grade: 6. Teacher: Mrs. Brinker Class: Science

Anonymous said...

Hello, my name is Michael from Christensen Middle School in California and I'm in the 7th grade. Me and my partner would like to know what the biggest species of fish being affected by the pollution?

Anonymous said...

hi from university high school los angeles california.How did u get in volved in this. How big was the ftiger fish u found in the bucket.What did you do with the fish did you let it go. thanks for opening our eyes about all the trash in the ocean hope you make it home safe.

Anonymous said...

university high school
west los angeles c,A
9 grade
jorge
how u fill helping sea animals..

Anonymous said...

university high school
west los angeles,CA
grade 9 braulio

show does it feel to shore around the world. i wanted to know how did u guyz find the rainbow runner?
angeles

Anonymous said...

Hello, My name is Tre'Ana from University high school in California I'm also a 9th grader.I would like to knoow can a Trigger fish really cause that much damage? I aslo enjoyed looking at the pictures.I liked the plastic bottles.I would also like to know do you guys ever find any dead fish? If so, how many a day?.Thank you for your time!

Anonymous said...

university high school
west los angeles,CA
grade 9 braulio

show does it feel to shore around the world. i wanted to know how did u guyz find the rainbow runner?
angeles

Anonymous said...

hello from university high school :Pthank you for helping out the ocean :) nd helping the trigger fish ...!!!! i have a question is it hard trying to find an animal in the ocean or does it take u for ever to look for them ??

Anonymous said...

HI my name is kent, I attend University High school Which is in Los Angeles,CA. Im In the 9th grade and im learning a lot about science this year. I just wanted to ask, Why are Trigger Fish So important in sea life? How are the Trigger Fish effecting other Sea animals/Fish?

Anonymous said...

Hello My Name is Asha Anderson, I attend University High School in Los Angeles, California & I am in the 9th grade. I was wondering if it would be possible to get all the trash out of the Gyres areas, & if not what would be the outcome? Thank you for your time,

Asha Anderson

Anonymous said...

Hey, Im Josh and I want to thank u guys 4 trying 2 help the whales...

Anonymous said...

hi,I want to know if its possible to clean out the whole ocean from pollution?

Anonymous said...

Very Nice Website...I Love what you are doing for the Ocean :) Please continue to do this...and good luck with your Journey all though You are almost finished. Please post Updates, etc. by tomorrow or tell More about your adventures.

Marcus
University High School
Grade 10

Anonymous said...

Edgar in 10th grade University High School
California annonymus I really am surprise for what you guys have talk about in your blogs and in your experience in the ocean.

Anonymous said...

Hi my name is Juana, I read the things that you do, i really enjoy reading your article because you guys are donig a great joy to caring about the seas and oceans where the fhisses live, also because you are saving the life of many fishes.

Anonymous said...

Nestor/10th grade student: I think it is great that your group is decreasing the amount of pollution there is in the oceans. It is horrible to see all the marine animals be killled by the pollution that is still in the oceans.

Anonymous said...

Hi my name is Arya from UNI High school.I appreciate your work.And i think it's important to care about animals in the ocean.

Anonymous said...

Hello this Gerald from University High School. I'm wondering how how well do you keep the ocean clean do you like your job. "Totally not cool man" too trash the ocean are you hippies. Do you like the ocean also do you get sea sick or not so, groovy man. It's not right to trash the ocean. What you guys are doing everyday is so great to the community and to other people and do you guys save animals in the sea and were do you bury dead animals were are you gonna ship back to. What do you do to the garbage do you keep them in the ship or a another place. thank you Gerald.

Anonymous said...

Hi this is Pedro. I am in the 10th grade. I wanted to say that it is cool on what you guys do everyday. I wonder how many animals have you guys seen dead. When you guys find one, what do you do with them. A cool thing would be if you guys make a cemtery for all the animals that died from pollution and people would see how much this matters. Thank you from Pedro.

Anonymous said...

Hello my name is david am in 10th grade and i would like to know ways that the world can help

Anonymous said...

10th grade University Senior High School, CA

Hello the name is Sandra. An I read a article about how fish were swimg in what the called 'plastic soup' that fish is going to be no longer safe to eat for us. And i was wondering what can we do to save the marine animals in the ocean who are suffuring cause of our cause of pollution. I was wonder ing what the whole planet can do to save them? And if so, how can we do it.

Anonymous said...

Hello my name is david am in 10th grade and i would like to know ways that the world can help

Anonymous said...

hi im araceli and im at university high school. im in the 9th grade and i would like to know if theres any animal in the marine that can safely digest plastic.
And how can I help to clean up the ocean?
Thanks for your time!!!!!

Anonymous said...

hi im araceli and im at university high school in los angeles california. im in the 9th grade and i would like to know if theres any animal in the marine that can safely digest plastic.
And how can I help to clean up the ocean?
Thanks for your time!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi, my name is Iran from university high school (grade 9)and I was wondering how I could get my hands on some trigger fish?

Anonymous said...

Hi my name is Elly and I go to University High School in West Los Angeles, CA. (Grade 9) I was just wondering if trigger fish have certain migration patterns.

Anonymous said...

Hello, my name is Jin Kyung and I am currently a 9th grader attending University High School in CA. I would like to ask a question about the trigger fish. Why did it believe that the plastic could have been food? Doesn't it know how to differentiate a delicious meal and a hunk of plastic?

Anonymous said...

Hello from University High in California(U.S).I am Eduardo and I'm in tenth grade in Mr.Shattuck's Bio class. I feel that this journey you guys are taking is just amazing mostly how you guys are helping the trigger fish. My question is how does it feel to be these amazing researchers that you are solving some of the sea's mysteries?

-Eduardo
University High school
Los Angeles CA
Mr.shattuck Per.2

Anonymous said...

Hello, my name is Stephen from Christensen Middle School, CA 7th Grade in Mrs. Brinker's class and my question is: Are there specific endangered species afflicted by the plastic in the ocean? Thank You.

Anonymous said...

Hay, my name is Beatrix from River Ridge High School in New Pt.Richey Fl. How damaged are the marine animals teeth after chewing on the plastic waste found in the ocean? Is there any chance of recovering?