Cleaning up the Gyre

[Cheechako]

I wonder if this will really come to pass?
https://www.minds.com/blog/view/4507...ployed-in-2016

[jdazey]

There's an excellent (and entertaining) book on gyres and oceanic garbage:

Flotsametrics and the Floating World
by Curtis Ebbesmeyer & Eric Scigliano
Harper Collins
2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-155841-2

We found our copy at a thrift store, but it may still be in print.

[JPA Cate]

Cheekako,

A passive devise that size will be right on the sailboat route from Hawaii to SF. How you going to avoid it at night? How you going to know where it is?

It might be a better idea to net and tow the stuff, but then what is the best way to dispose of it? Varying opinions on that, too.

Difficult problem.

Ann

[sailnow2011]

It does not actually work.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Cheekako,

A passive devise that size will be right on the sailboat route from Hawaii to SF. How you going to avoid it at night? How you going to know where it is?

It might be a better idea to net and tow the stuff, but then what is the best way to dispose of it? Varying opinions on that, too.

Difficult problem.

Ann

Yep, I thought about that. Not sure what the answer is. I think taxing the profits of sales of "disposable" plastics and using the money for ships that scoop this stuff up is fine with me.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yep, I thought about that. Not sure what the answer is. I think taxing the profits of sales of "disposable" plastics and using the money for ships that scoop this stuff up is fine with me.

Great idea, now if we could just get it done!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Great idea, now if we could just get it done!

Yeah, unfortunately... that's likely a pipe dream with the Petro Lobby!

[sailnow2011]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Yep, I thought about that. Not sure what the answer is. I think taxing the profits of sales of "disposable" plastics and using the money for ships that scoop this stuff up is fine with me.

There are no ships to scoop it up. No way to remove the plastic without a ton of bycatch has been found yet.

[Sailmonkey]

Most of the plastic is too small to scoop up anyway......disgusting


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[roverhi]

The plastic is pretty much harmless till it breaks down into minute specs that the smaller creatures can consume. Would have to have a pretty fine filter to screen those small particles.

The route to and from Hawaii normally goes around the Pacific high. Would only be a problem for those people that power through the center of the high. The center of the high is the concentrator for the garbage.

[DeepFrz]

The plastic is pretty much harmless till it breaks down into minute specs that the smaller creatures can consume. Would have to have a pretty fine filter to screen those small particles.

Not quite harmless. The cigarette lighter size and smaller are killing a lot of birds, turtles and probably sea mammals as well.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=albat...w=1265&bih=603

[hpeer]

I just got to read the article.

Not enough info there to condem or condone.

It will be interesting to see the details and operational reports.

I hope it works out.

[ryon]

FYI, there's another "gyres" plastic survey, beginning in the Atlantic this Tuesday. See 5gyres.org for details.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by roverhi

The plastic is pretty much harmless till it breaks down into minute specs that the smaller creatures can consume. Would have to have a pretty fine filter to screen those small particles.

The route to and from Hawaii normally goes around the Pacific high. Would only be a problem for those people that power through the center of the high. The center of the high is the concentrator for the garbage.

Roverhi,

We have sailed from Kauai to San Francisco twice, admittedly a small "n." We did not motor, nor sail through the center of the high. However, we did encounter trash from the Pacific Gyre along our route. My experience is why I think that cruisers might encounter a similar phenomenon.

Just sayin'.

Ann

[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Cheekako,

A passive devise that size will be right on the sailboat route from Hawaii to SF. How you going to avoid it at night? How you going to know where it is?

It might be a better idea to net and tow the stuff, but then what is the best way to dispose of it? Varying opinions on that, too.

Difficult problem.

Ann

I'm thinking they would probably equipped with active radar reflectors and/or AIS transponders. Solar powered I'd guess.