June 27, 2010
By John Miller
Herman Melville begins his epic story of Moby Dick with Ishmael reflecting upon his reasons for going to sea: "Whenever I find myself going grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul...". And so I found myself in late 2009, like Ishmael, grim about the mouth, weighed down with the continuing gloom of another Seattle winter, the pressure of my job, falling house prices, and so on. Then, a notice came my way seeking SEA alumni applicants for the 2010 Plastics at SEA Expedition. Could there be a glimmer of hope that I would be accepted if I applied? I decided to try. Several months later, I was one of 23 chosen to participate in the expedition on the SSV Corwith Cramer, one of two brigantines operated by SEA. Was I less "grim"? Of course, for I was going off to sea on a sailing ship.
I did not know much about plastic pollution of the oceans other than the usual – beaches with plastic flotsam washed onto them and the occasional plastic buckets and bits of lost fishing nets I would see when sailing. After reading several of the articles on plastic pollution problems in the oceans, I realized that I would be a member of a team studying something worthwhile, rather than just a crew member on a vessel going from Point A to Point B. I felt good about being chosen.
Before coming aboard the Cramer in Bermuda I certainly had concerns about being the oldest member onboard the vessel. Could I hold my own in the physical aspects of sail handling? Would I remember how to use a sextant? Could I spend a day assisting the steward in the cramped, hot galley with cheer or would I be laid out, suffering the effects of mal de mer like on the Westward so long ago?
Now I'm on the Cramer and starting the third week of our five week cruise. I'm browner, stronger, and glad to say, remembering much of my prior nautical past with just a few exceptions. And those exceptions can be humbling, especially when I think I'm on top of the game, such as when I prepared the CTD carousel by "seizing" the shackle with a length of stainless wire. As I was admiring my handy work and thinking quite well of myself, our watch scientist walked by, took one look at it, and remarked that next time I should figure-eight the wire and wrap the seizing in the middle of the "eight", something I had neglected to do. It wasn't a severe critique but it hits home because I want to perform at my best and not let down my fellow watchmates and the rest of the crew. And that's what it is all about: teamwork. Teamwork to raise the sails, teamwork to set out the neuston net and collect the plastic, teamwork to cook the food, and yes, teamwork to clean the ship. And I find myself wanting to be part of the team.
Let's take sail handling: I have no doubt that the Cramer could be run with far fewer hands than what we have on board now, but boy, when it comes time to raise a sail like the fisherman staysail, I'm glad I have several watchmates to lend a hand on the halyards. It can be a bear in light airs, never mind a strong breeze. And it's always comforting to know there is a shipmate out on the head rig (the bowsprit for you landlubbers) helping me to furl the jib topsail, especially at night in plunging seas. When we are done setting sails and everything goes smoothly (which happens more and more frequently as we become seasoned), we watchmates have a sense of satisfaction for a job well done. It's a good feeling.
What about the reason for the expedition, the plastic pollution? Well, at more than fifteen hundred miles of sailing, we are finding plastic in every tow of the net, and we are at fifty tows as I write this. The plastic is usually in the form of small bits. What does this mean for life in the oceans? I don't think we really know at this time, but there is a strong suspicion that these many bits of plastic may be interacting with life at the microbial level and possibly on up to the plankton and zooplankton level. And, of course, many larger marine animals have been found to dine on these plastic bits – usually with ill effect. This expedition won't provide all of the answers immediately, but there will be papers generated from our data which will lead to further studies – that's how science research works.
The fact remains, though, plastic seems to be everywhere out here. My non-scientific conclusion? We humans need to change the way we package materials. Why are most packaging materials plastic? It is so much easier to toss plastic "stuff" out where it may be washed out to sea or onto beaches than it is to dispose of properly. But why go there at all? Why not reusable materials to package up our goods? I'm a realist and I know that it will be tough to change a global mindset. But we need to start. The evidence is here on the Cramer with every tow of the net.
