Join ORV Alguita on a research voyage to the North Pacific Gyre to research Marine Debris on the open ocean. ORV Alguita departed Hilo, Hawaii on January 20, 2008 for a month long winter voyage through the North Pacific Gyre. During this extended voyage, the vessel's research team will collect samples to help answer questions about the growing amount of plastic debris in the world's oceans.
Welcome aboard! Students from around the world will join ORV Alguita on her research voyage via a satellite connection.
Watch a preview of "Synthetic Sea" Synthetic Sea traces the groundbreaking research conducted by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation (AMRF) regarding the exponential buildup of “non-biodegradable” plastic debris in the world’s ocean. The program documents AMRF research and sampling from Hawaii, the North Central Pacific Gyre, and the California Coastline.