2024 Collection Results

Ocean Plastics Recovery Project removed 150,450 lbs of marine debris this summer, between an continuation of a multisoutheast Alaska and an extended cleanup effort at Kayak island on Alaska’s Lost Coast.

The first southeast expedition was held aboard the R/V Steadfast May 7-13 and was staffed by a team from Google X and gTech Sustainability, resulting in approximately 19,100 lbs of marine debris removed from the marine environment. A second expedition then departed with students from Northwestern University and University of Massachusetts, Lowell. From May 15-21 this team collected approximately 15,020 lbs of marine debris removed for a total of 34,120 lbs in the southeast Alaska collection effort this year.

This project was funded by the NOAA marine debris program (NA22NOS9990137) with matching support from OPR and our many partners.

A team hauls a bag toward an awaiting skiff. Warmchuk Inlet, Southeast Alaska.

At Kayak island, OPR planned and hired 33 individuals throughout winter and spring to staff 3 cleanup crews spanning approximately two weeks each. From May 27-Jun 2 an advanced crew and volunteers upgraded Cape St. Elias facilities as part of a partnership with Cape St. Elias Lightkeepers. The main cleanup effort occurred Jun 3-Jul 12 and covered 8.68 miles. Crews mapped and collected 116,330 lbs of marine debris through Jul 9. Materials were to be sling loaded to a barge Jul 10-11, but weather limited the effort to Jul 10 and only 55% was removed. With some additional funding from the Martin-Fabert Foundation through Realize Impact, the remaining materials were sling loaded to two fishing tenders Sep 8. All Kayak island materials are presently in Kodiak for processing.

The Kayak Island Marine Debris Removal & Monitoring effort is funded as a subaward to OPR by the NOAA Marine Debris Program grant to the University of Alaska (NA23NOS9990088).