The Ocean Cleanup’s Mega Expedition returns from Pacific Garbage Patch

by The Ocean Cleanup on 18 Aug 2015 What:
A press conference will be held as the first batch of Mega Expedition vessels (including the mothership) arrives in San Francisco after a 30-day voyage mapping the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A fleet of around 30 vessels has been gathering data to find out how much plastic is floating in the Pacific Ocean. This operation is in preparation of the large-scale cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is scheduled to begin by 2020.

Who:
The Ocean Cleanup’s founder and CEO, Boyan Slat, will speak about the Mega Expedition’s preliminary results and the project’s next steps, in addition to Lead Oceanographer Julia Reisser. This expedition has been made possible through many generous donations, including major funding from well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, whose statements will be shared at the press conference.

When:
Sunday, August 23, 2015
10 a.m.

Where:
Pier 30/32
San Francisco, CA

Photo Opps:
The 171-foot mothership accompanied by several participating sailing vessels arriving at San Francisco’s Pier 30/32 after their 30-day expedition across the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; tons of ocean plastic being offloaded from the vessels; a private tour of the mothership at the pier led by The Ocean Cleanup’s founder and CEO, Boyan Slat; and local officials and politicians in attendance.

Press Check-in:
Press check-in will be open from 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Why:
The Ocean Cleanup has developed the world’s first feasible method to remove half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 10 years’ time. Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans severely damaging ecosystems and economies, even affecting the food chain. Plastic concentrates in five circulation currents called “gyres,” the largest one being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, halfway between Hawaii and California. Instead of going after the plastic using vessels and nets (which would take thousands of years and tens of billions of dollars to complete), The Ocean Cleanup is developing a network of extremely long floating barriers that will use the ocean currents to collect the plastic. This month, around 30 vessels cross the Great Pacific Garbage Patch about 40 times, taking more plastic measurements in three weeks than in the past 40 years combined. The Mega Expedition is the largest ocean research expedition in history.