Algalita Marine Research Foundation

annual report 2008

Algalita Marine Research Foundation

148 North Marina Drive, Long Beach, CA 90803 n 562.598.4889 n www.algalita.org

 ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Dear Friends of Algalita,

I n 1998, Captain Charles Moore, returning to California from Hawaii aboard the ORV
Alguita, made his first trip through the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The gyre,

The Algalita Marine

A nyone who has observed the frantic pace of activity at our small office must
assume that our message about the seriousness of plastic pollution of the ocean
is gaining traction. Requests for interviews and photographs for articles flood in daily.
formerly known as the “horse latitudes,” is a 10 million square mile patch of circulating
current – an area of little precipitation combined with
variable winds and intermittent calm. Currents flow into the
Answering questions and referring inquiries to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) gyre from all directions, carrying with them great quantities
Research Foundation
page on our excellent website increasingly eats up the precious time of our small, of trash – 85% of it plastic – which makes its way into the
is dedicated to the devoted staff. oceans via the world’s watersheds. Unfortunately, most
of what goes into the gyre stays there, with only the tiniest
protection of the Can we assume that the world now knows about the serious problem of plastics in the plastic particulate matter ending up on far-flung beaches.
ocean? Though millions do, billions do not, and we still need to reach them. Many of Although most trash biodegrades in seawater over time,
marine environment
the inquiries we receive come from people who have only recently learned about our plastic does not. Instead, it continues to break down into
and its watersheds research. Some requests come from national and international organizations that smaller and smaller pieces, forever circulating in the sea.
share our concerns and want to partner with us but are surprisingly unfamiliar with
through research, our findings. Alarmed by the plastic-laden ocean that lay before and around
him, Captain Moore decided that the questions of how all
education, and
High profile projects like the voyage of the JUNKraft to Honolulu, and the follow-up that plastic found its way to the gyre, and how much actually
restoration three nation JUNKride help greatly to publicize our message. Our gyre voyages and resided there, needed to be answered. The following year,
our Ship-2-Shore blogs add content and reach many students as well as the general Captain Moore and a team of researchers returned to the
public. Presentations, both local and international, by our researchers and volunteers gyre, collected samples using surface and depth trawls, and
help spread the word. brought them back to the mainland for lab analysis. With
that first sampling, the average plastic density ratio was
The magnificent feature films coming out showing beautiful sea creatures in their calculated to be six parts plastic to one part zooplankton.
ocean habitats showcase amazing technical advancements in underwater photography That was nearly ten years ago. Moore’s most recent 2007-08
and hopefully will widely expand the numbers of people who are in love with the ocean trip to the gyre produced some samples with a density ratio
and want to protect it. Our research, while exposing of forty-six parts plastic to one part zooplankton.
dire threats to the ocean’s beauty and health, relies
on the public’s love for the greatest of all the habitats The Algalita Marine Research Foundation’s mission is the
for life in our entire solar system. We accept as true protection of the marine environment and its watersheds
the oft-quoted adage, “we protect what we love.” through research, education and restoration. On the pages
We’ve got a lot of protecting to do. of this report you will learn of the ways in which Algalita has
been fulfilling that mission, what we accomplished in 2008,
and our plans for 2009. Dr. Marcus Eriksen, aboard ORV Alguita, sorts plastic items
Captain Charles Moore collected during the 2008 Gyre Expedition.
Founder, Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Captain Charles Moore swims amid marine
debris in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.

Front Cover
Gooseneck barnacles anchor themselves
to a makeshift home on a discarded
plastic fishing float.
2008 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

T his past year, Captain Charles Moore and his crew embarked on their sixth voyage
into the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre with a mission to collect plastic marine debris
samples within the same parameters they first examined in 1999. Inasmuch as
it took half a century for plastic waste to make its way into and cover the gyre,
it took less than a decade for the particulate matter to double in density.

Additionally, during this expedition, research was expanded for the first time
to collect lantern fish and analyze their stomach contents. These tiny
nocturnal members of the family Myctophidae rise from the depths to feed
on surface zooplankton. Of the hundreds of fish caught and examined back on
the mainland under laboratory conditions, one-third of the sample had ingested plastic –
the record holder containing 84 rice grain-sized particles. A common restaurant fish, this
Rainbow Runner found with 17
pieces of plastic in its stomach,
During Algalita’s JUNKraft voyage later in the year, 1000 miles away from land in all
was caught 1000 miles from land
directions, other scientists caught Rainbow Runner, a common restaurant and fish market during the California to Hawaii
item. In its stomach they found 17 large plastic fragments. As in the lantern fish from the JUNKraft voyage.
gyre expedition, the plastic pieces could not move past the stomach.

Plastic ingestion by fish and marine mammals can result in not only restricted breathing
and feeding, but a false sense of satiation, resulting in starvation. This alone is cause
for concern. Add to the equation a potential for the accumulation and concentration of “Our research, while exposing dire threats to the ocean’s beauty
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) in the tissues and organs of invertebrates and
feeder fish – marine life that invariably impacts the oceanic and ultimately the human and health, relies on the public’s love for the greatest of all the
food chain – and the situation becomes critical.
habitats for life in our entire solar system.” Captain Charles Moore

This cusk eel lodged inside a broken plastic petroleum jelly jar Joel Paschal video-documents remnants of knotted ghost net in the Gyre. An assortment of household plastic debris, carried from
was discovered off the coast of Long Beach, California. around the world by ocean currents and deposited on
Hawaii’s Kamilo Beach, is collected and catalogued.
2008 RESTORATION HIGHLIGHTS 2008 EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS

F or centuries, California Giant Kelp proliferated along the California coast. Vast,
dense canopies could be seen floating atop the waves for hundreds of yards beyond
the shoreline, but with time, and man’s impact of increased hunting, fishing and pollution,
F ueled by the dedication and guidance
of Dr. Marcus Eriksen, AMRF Director
of Education, Algalita sailed through 2008
the kelp forests began to meet their demise. with another stellar year of extraordinary
outreach efforts and educational events.
By the early 1900s, sea otters, the greatest defenders of kelp forests, had all but
JUNKraft embarked upon its Hawaii-bound
disappeared from the Southern California coastline. After two centuries of harvesting by
voyage from Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach,
commercial fur traders, these whiskered marine mammals, once estimated to number
California on Sunday, June 1 with a mission
in the hundreds of thousands, had dwindled to near extinction. Their notable decline,
to raise awareness of the plastic marine
in addition to sporadic El Niño conditions combined with the over-fishing and trapping
debris fouling our oceans. Samohi’s Team
of California sheephead and California spiny lobster, served as a catalyst for a popula-
Marine, Redondo Union High School, MUSE
tion boom of the three species’ favorite delicacy – and great nemesis of kelp
Elementary, and the Environmental Charter
beds – the purple sea urchin. With no natural predators to keep them at bay,
High School’s Green Ambassadors assisted
sea urchins eat their way through holdfasts, over-graze stalks and fronds, and
in the construction of JUNK, employing a
ultimately decimate kelp forests leaving beaches vulnerable to erosion.
Cessna 310 fuselage for a sleeping cabin and
15,000 plastic water bottles for buoyancy.
Since 1997, Algalita has focused on reversing this destruction through its Kelp
Anna Cummins, AMRF Education Advisor and land support coordinator, created and main- Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal sail
ABOVE:
Reforestation Project. The program originally concentrated on developing in- JUNKraft into Oahu’s Ala Wai Harbor.
tained a blog for the journey, which chronicled the activities and adventures of JUNKraft
laboratory sporing and kelp transplant techniques which were applied at Little
sailors Dr. Eriksen and Joel Paschal. After 88 days at sea across 2600 miles of ocean, with
Corona Beach in Corona del Mar. During Phase I of the project, lab-cultured BELOW: Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins test
the two seafarers braving squalls, collecting plastic-ridden ocean surface samples, and exposure suits not only designed to keep wearers
plants, supplemented with adult transplants, were used to reforest a combined
catching fish with plastic-ingested gullets, JUNK arrived in Honolulu’s Ala Wai Harbor on afloat and highly visible in the event they fall
total of over 500 meters on the Long Beach section of the San Pedro overboard but which are also complete with
August 27th.
Breakwater. In Phase II, a new process to provide on-site sporing of the built-in food and water compartments.
transplants was first tested on the Long Beach breakwater, and then expanded The Ship-2-Shore Education Program invited students from around the world to
BOTTOM: Volunteers commence the building of
to include areas of Orange County at Pelican Point and Wheeler’s Reef in interactively monitor ORV Alguita’s onboard, day-to-day, at-sea experiences during its
JUNKraft in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor near
Crystal Cove State Park. Due to its success, the process has been extended to North Pacific Subtropical Gyre research expedition. Throughout the Winter 2008 voyage,
the Aquarium of the Pacific
Deadman’s Reef in Laguna Beach. students and educators from the U.S., Chile, and Puerto Rico, along with the ORV Alguita
shore team, utilized satellite communications and a moderated web space to share
Through its past, present, and future planned efforts, Algalita’s work will be questions, answers, and ideas as real-time marine research was conducted.
integral to the restoration of fish and invertebrate nursery grounds and the
The Watershed Wonders School Tour continued its curriculum development to
prevention of beach erosion. As
educate K-12 students in more than 50 schools about the importance of maintaining cleaner
TOP: A kelp forest is reestablished with the kelp forests mature, transient
watersheds to promote healthier oceans. To date, the curriculum book and DVD series
transplants along Wheeler’s Reef in Orange marine life and larger fish species
County’s Crystal Cove State Park.
has been distributed to thousands of schools throughout the United States. In 2009 the
are being drawn to them, ultimately
Watershed Wonders video series will add a new episode “Watershed Wonders:
providing increased sport fishing
MIDDLE: With no natural predators, the purple Los Angeles River and the Adventures of the Cola Kayak,” which will be distributed to
sea urchin remains the chief nemesis of kelp and diving opportunities.
200 schools throughout Southern California.
forests along the Southern California coast.
2009’s JUNKride will continue the dissemination of Algalita’s message of the critical
BOTTOM: Diver Cliff Noland tows a mature
issues regarding plastic marine debris as Dr. Eriksen and Anna Cummins bicycle from
kelp transplant to its sporing site along
the Long Beach breakwater.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. On the journey, they will meet
with educators, organizations, and legislators along the west coast of North America
to share information of the profound impact single-use plastics are wreaking upon
the marine environment.
 Losses
-22%
Contributions

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
42% Education STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION 30% ALGALITA MARINE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

For the year endING December 31, 2008 For the year endING December 31, 2008

EXPENSES

Unrestricted Temporarily Permanently Total
Restricted Restricted
Investment Losses Fundraising
SUPPORT & REVENUES ASSETS
Outreach Materials -12% 4%
Contributions & grants $553,840 $151,646 $45,000 $750,486 Cash and cash equivalents $189,540
Promises to give &Program
accounts 2%
receivable,
Service Revenuenet 13,104 General Restoration
Program service revenue 13,763 - - 13,763
Investments (out product sales) 239,077 Support 2%
Membership 10,767 - - 10,767 Membership
Special Events, net 4,226 - - 4,226
Equipment
1% 3%
17,096 8%
Other assets Special Events563
Interest and dividends 4,455 1,411 - 5,866 Membership

2% 1%
Net realized & unrealized loss TOTAL ASSETS $459,380
Research Education
on investments (86,112) (25,245) - (111,357) Investment
Contributions/
Other income - - - - SpecialLosses
Events 45% 22% Research
Net assets released from restrictions: 202,295 (202,295) - - LIABILITIES -22%
23% 64%
Accounts payableContributions
53,478
TOTAL SUPPORT & REVENUE 703,234 (74,483) 45,000 673,751 Accrued expenses 42% Education 75,962
Education
17%
EXPENSES TOTAL LIABILITIES 30% $129,440
Program services
Restoration 16,375 - - 16,375 NET ASSETS
Research 499,294 - - 499,294 Unrestricted 103,978
Education 169,212 - - 169,212 Temporarily restricted 130,962 SUPPORT & REVENUE
Total program service expenses 684,881 - - 684,881 Permanently Restricted 95,000
Investment Losses
Supporting services Outreach Materials
Management & general 59,624 - - 59,624
TOTAL NET ASSETS $329,940 -12%
Fundraising 30,587 - - 30,587
2%
Total supporting services expenses 90,211 - - 90,211 TOTAL LIABILITIES $459,380 Membership
& NET ASSETS
1%
TOTAL EXPENSES 775,092 - - 775,092

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS (71,858) (74,483) 45,000 (101,341) Research

Contributions/
Special Events 45%
NET ASSETS
23%
AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 175,836 205,445 50,000 431,281
Education
AT END OF YEAR $103,978 $130,962 $95,000 $329,940
17%
 ALGALITA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAJOR SUPPORTERS in 2008

John M. Fentis I President William C. Bannerman Foundation LA County Supervisor

Nikhil Davé, Ph.D. I Vice president
Will J. Reid Foundation Don Knabe
Greater Long Beach Foundation – Valero Energy
William R. Francis I Secretary
Anonymous Donor Captain Planet Foundation
Gwen Lattin I Treasurer
American Honda Foundation Alcoa Fastening Systems
Bill Brush I Director Marisla Foundation New Wave Automation
Duane Laursen I Director Surf Industry One Bag at a Time
David C. Meyer I Director
Manufacturers Association Johnson Ohana
Pacific Life Foundation Charitable Foundation
TERRI BUCHANAN I Director
Employees Community Fund Graham & Susan Nash
Jeanne Gallagher I Director
of Boeing California Kellogg’s/Kashi
Paul Cummins I Director Kenneth & Eileen Norris Foundation Ecousable Inc.
Union Bank of California, NA Marie D. Jeffrey Foundation
ALGALITA STAFF Project Aware Suzy Amis Cameron
Carol & Kent H. Landsberg Foundation Jenna King
Marieta Francis I Executive Director
Boeing Company VF Services, Inc./REI
Nicole Chatterson I OPERATIONS Assistant Patagonia
Marcus Eriksen, Ph.D. I Director of Education How to Help Algalita
Anna Cummins I Education ADVISOR n Make a one-time, tax-deductible donation online at www.algalita.org,
Christiana Boerger I RESEARCH ASSISTANT or by mail to Algalita Marine Research Foundation, 148 Marina Drive, TOP: The Big Island of Hawaii becomes the repository

Holly Gray I Vessel Support

Long Beach, California 90803. for international flotsam and jetsam routinely washed
n Corporate or Foundation support. up on Kamilo Beach.
Lorena Rios, Ph.D. I RESEARCH Advisor
n Become a member online at www.algalita.org or call 562.598.4889.
BOTTOM: Joel Paschal, in the Zodiac, films Captain
Gwen Lattin I Director, Research Laboratory
n Give a memorial or tribute donation in honor or in memory of Charles Moore and a flotilla of trash during the 2008
PatTY Warhol I GrantS MANAGER someone or to commemorate a special occasion. Gyre Expedition.
n Contribute with a gift of stock.
n Explore Planned Giving options.
n Contribute to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation’s
Endowment Fund.
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
n If you are a federal employee or retiree and would like to support
MICHELE SWANSON: Production Coordinator/Editor/Writer
Algalita through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), our Jean Kent Unatin: Graphic Design
CFC number is 12273. MARCUS ERIKSEN, Ph.D.: Contributing Photographer
Jeffery Ernst: Contributing Photographer
For more information call 562.598.4889 Gordon Lehman: Contributing Photographer
or visit www.algalita.org Joel Paschal: Contributing Photographer

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North Pacific Subtropical Gyre aboard ORV Alguita