SDGs Research Project: Thinking About Sea Creatures

In the aim to better connect with our past campers, we have recently launched the new “SDGs Research Project.” An America-side counselor and a Japan-side camper remotely pair up to complete research on a topic chosen from the 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and eventually publish an online article. Through the process, our camper will gain a broader view of social issues, nurture a consistent awareness and problem-solving mindset, and, of course, improve English writing & speaking skills. We hope you enjoy our first publication by Ayako Takao, a camper from 2018 Mito Camp and Matthew Ho, UC Davis graduate, which they’ve been working on for the last 3 months.

Ayako by the Georgia Strait in Vancouver, Canada.

Ayako by the Georgia Strait in Vancouver, Canada.

Hi, my name is Ayako. I am first year at high school. I enjoy studying English and Art. I also recently enjoy reading Japanese novels such as Haruki Murakami. On this SDGs Research Project, I chose to focus on “Life Below Water”, because I saw the picture of the ocean filled with trash. I think all the people have the responsibility to spread the awareness of what is happening in the world and save our lovely ocean for the next generation.

Although I have always had a strong passion about the ocean, my prior knowledge was somewhat poor; it was the same as other people or less. But even without any knowledge, I could see the problem in the ocean. Think about every ocean filled with trash and there is no creature, no blue, no healing. I do NOT want to even imagine it, but if we don’t start the change now, the nightmare will become the reality. On this research, I learned about the harmful effects of bycatching, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the seriousness of these problems.

Harmful Effects of Bycatching

The first problem that I am most curious about is “bycatch.” I find it the most problematic that it is not a well-known problem of sea creatures, though it has a huge effect to the ecosystem. “Bycatch” is to catch non-target species of sea creatures indiscriminately in commercial fishing. It includes whales, dolphins, sea turtles, blue sharks, sea lions and so on, and even sea birds. Endangered species are often caught as bycatch.

A marine turtle caught as bycatch. [link]

A marine turtle caught as bycatch. [link]

When fisherman throw back the bycatch into the ocean, most of the creatures are dead or dying already. Between 17 and 22% of the fish that were caught in the US has been discarded before reaching a port, amounting 2 billion pounds every year (907,184,000 kg). Also a lot of juvenile fishes are taken as bycatch. It means they don’t even have a chance to grow and reproduce. It has bad influences directly. If we don’t stop it right now, the ecosystem below water is going to be destroyed.

For example, herring is often caught as bycatch. Herring (ニシン) is a vital prey species for the cod(タラ). Therefore, when herring are overfished, the cod population suffers as well. And this chain reaction affects other species too. [link] It is not rare that such sea creature’s food chain suffers from a vicious cycle. Researchers estimate as many as 100 million sharks are killed around the world every year by bycatch. They also estimate that 150 turtles are captured per day by bycatch. The ocean has provided us many resources for millions of years; however, there is a limit for it. I want to spread the awareness to stop bycatch.

A shark caught as bycatch of shrimp fishing. [link]

A shark caught as bycatch of shrimp fishing. [link]

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Another problem that I want to discuss is GPGP, which is the abbreviation for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It is currently floating somewhere between Hawaii and California. The total area is double the size of Texas, and three times the size of France (Texas:695,700 km², France: 643,800 km²). It is the biggest garbage patch in the world. The patch is made up of garbage that comes from our daily life. The most of the debris is coming from land-based sources and have survived a long trip. They can’t be bio-degraded in the marine environment.

[image of map showing GPGP] [link]

[image of map showing GPGP] [link]

According to the Nature Research, GPGP is predicted to be at least 79 thousand tons of ocean plastic which float inside an area of 1.6 million km². Also it has 180 times more plastic than marine life.

GPGP has risks not only for sea creatures but also for human beings, because it includes excessive toxic chemicals. 84% of the plastic is found to have at least one Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic (PBT) chemical. Animals take in these chemicals into their bodies, by consuming food that PBT has contaminated.

GPGP not only affects our health, but it also affects our economic society. The United Nations reported that the environmental damage cost below water caused by plastic approximates to 13 billion dollars. This amounts to the fund you need to build 15 Tokyo Sky Trees.

The Ocean Cleanup Project

The Ocean Cleanup Project is working on the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, aiming to remove the garbage. The project aims to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040. When the plastic has been removed, sea creatures can live safely and the ocean will be cleaner. This is a long shot, but we surely can restore the ecosystem and utilize its resources properly this way.

Photos of Laysan albatross carcasses with large amounts off plastic in their stomachs show the deadly effects of plastic pollution. [link]

Photos of Laysan albatross carcasses with large amounts off plastic in their stomachs show the deadly effects of plastic pollution. [link]

The project achieves this goal by using an innovative technology, just using the natural oceanic forces. The traditional methods using nets or other materials take too much time and cost to implement, so the Ocean Cleanup Project method is more efficient. It uses three steps to clean up.

First, it creates an artificial coastline in the middle of ocean. It consists of a 600-meter-long floater with 3-meter-deep skirt attached below. It deploys buoys that prevent plastic wastes from flowing over it, while the skirt attached to the buoys stops garbage from escaping underneath.

The system is made of two main components: the floater and the skirt. [link]

The system is made of two main components: the floater and the skirt. [link]

Illustration of the forces acting on the system.[link]

Illustration of the forces acting on the system.[link]

The system gathers garbage all over the sea so that it facilitates the removal. It only uses the natural flow of the ocean, waves and wind. It is also proven safe for sea creatures.

Illustration of the forces acting on the system.[link]

Eventually the system concentrates plastics to one spot and humans can easily take it out using the center of U-shape equipment. The collected plastic will be recycled.

Ever since this project has been founded in 2013. they have got many awards and recognitions such as “United Nations Champion of the Earth,” “Designs of the Year,” “Design to Improve Life,” ”Innovation by Design,” ”The 25 Best Inventions of 2015,” ”Entrepreneur’s Brilliant 100,” and “The Heyerdahl Award.”

Now the team is working on System 001, which is the first automatic cleanup system. They are in the checking stage to find problems connected with winds and waves, and search the way to improve them. [link]

Conclusion

I wish every person who reads this article would now know and care about ocean. This research reminded me how important water is and how it affects us to live comfortably. Every water we drink, every air we breathe are coming from the ocean. Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere is generated by the ocean.

We should utilize many media like films, internet, and web articles to spread what is going on and promote public supports for a global network of marine protected areas to recover and preserve the ocean. More research and new technology, like submarines, can also help. We have to keep the blue heart of the planet.

I could not have done this research if I had not gotten confidence at TOKIHA Summer Camp. TOKIHA counselors and campers I met at the camp were so friendly and had their own stories. Knowing about myself and others, I learned that there are many students who always make efforts to achieve their own dreams. I was encouraged with the positive words from everyone to gain confidence in myself (and my English skill too!)

Ayako with her TOKIHA family at Mito Camp 2018

Ayako with her TOKIHA family at Mito Camp 2018