There’s Plastic in our water

In 2008 I met environmental scientist Marcus Ericson, who asked me if I was interested in documenting the construction and voyage of his “Junk” Raft, which he and his partner, Joel Paschal, planned to sail from Long Beach to Hawaii to help build awareness about the ever increasing plastic pollution in our seas. That journey opened my eyes to the blight of plastic and how we all contribute to it. I’ve been photographing its destructive impact our waterways, communities and oceans ever since.

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Heal the bay Clean up at Venice Beach.

Plastic water bottle floating in Pacific Ocean

Plastic water bottles on shelves of supermarket, Los Angeles, California, USA

Nurdles are pre-production plastic pellets and resin materials typically under 5mm in diameter. Starbucks cup on Malibu beach.

Marcus Eriksen makes final preparationfor the launch of the "Junk, Long Beach.

On the third day of the trip the “Junk” sets sail about 65 miles from shore. On Sunday June 1, the raft named "Junk" left Long Beach for it’s 2100 mile voyage to Hawaii to bring attention to the plastic marine debris (nicknamed the plastic soup) accumulating in the North Pacific Gyre.

Captain Charles Moore holding jar of micro-plastics he trawled from a recent trip through the North Pacific Gyre.

Plastic sample jars of micro-plastics trawled from the North Pacific Gyre, and a Flying Fish.

Ballona_Creek

Large amounts of trash and plastic refuse collect in Ballona Creek after first major rain storm of the season. Egret and trash in Ballona Creek.

Large amounts of trash and plastic refuse collect in Ballona Creek after first major rain storm of the season.

Department of Public Works workers clean up garbage that accumulates in Trash Net boom at the mouth of the Ballona Creek after first rainfall of the year.

Accumulated trash in the Los Angeles River along the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area.

FoLAR's (Friends of the LA River) La Gran Limpieza river cleanup removes tons of trash and palstic bags each year and helps educate the public about plastic blight in our rivers and streams.

Stacks of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) bottles, at a Recycling Center

Accumulated trash next to the headworks for the Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds, Pico Rivera.