Think Beyond Plastics Expedition is underway
The Think Beyond Plastics Expedition is underway. A little background on the voyage: Drew Stephens, from The GIS Institute, will be aboard the Derek M. Baylis 
this November, a 65′ research sailboat, traveling through communities in Southern California, providing GIS support to Sealife Conservation and Sea Studios Foundation. The goal is to provide scientific and advocacy support for the polystyrene container and single use plastic bag bans being considered by local governments along the route. Programs will run from November 4th in Morro Bay and conclude at the end of November in San Diego. We will host evening programs in communities to screen SeaStudios films (Plastic Plague, and Bag the Bag), and to facilitate panels with local marine and government officials. A DVD resource will also be provided in reusable shopping bags made from recycles plastic bottles. The DVDs contains the films, a sample polystyrene ordinance, a list of cities and counties that have adopted the ban, a copy of state ordinance AB1358, and a list of local vendors who will provide alternative bio-compostable products to cities and businesses. The DVD tool allows a city to essentially create a legally defensible ban in their community from a copy and paste. The overall goal of these meeting is to provide tools and credible imagery for citizens to foster change in their communities.
During the day, SeaLife Conservation’s role is to provide the Derek M. Baylis as a venue for an educational opportunity to those interested in pursuing this cause. We will provide a short daysails to conduct “Science Under Sail” activities, which include a plankton tow (and video microscope examination of the sample), a general survey of local waterfront to see storm drain and streams, and demonstrations of our debris removal and GPS/mapping techniques.
SeaLife Conservation has been studying and educating the public about ocean plastics for nearly five years. They have learned a tremendous amount about how plastics impact our oceans, and just as importantly, the sources of the plastics. During that time we have worked with a number of city and state agencies to develop better practices to help prevent plastics from entering our oceans. SeaLife Conservation work with the city of Monterey, in particular, has been very rewarding. This past February Monterey passed a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam) takeout containers within the city limits. SeaLife Conservation is broadening its mission area, and extending the reach of its message by supporting cities to pass bans on polystyrene and on plastic bags. Sealife Conservation’s particular strengths are educating the public and studying plastic types and concentrations. These strengths are best put to use by partnering with non-profits and city agencies interested in adopting bans.
Sea Studios has been producing films about the environment for National Geographic, PBS, and for private distribution for years. Recently, they have sought to highlight their work in communities and leverage their work to help create change, just as Sealife Conservation has. We started working with Sea Studios this past summer, hosting participants from two very successful events they produced, the Think Beyond Plastic Film Festival and the Plastic Pollution Coalition Summit. With two successes under our belt, it was time to step up our collective game!
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