Have Trawl- Will Travel
In order to understand if plastic pollution exists in the 5 gyres, we have built 5 trawls to loan to vessels of opportunity. If you’re sailing through one of the 5 gyres, considering borrowing one of our small research trawls to collect scientific samples. Our new “Suitcase Manta Trawl” and “Winged Trawl” include easy protocols, which can be used by anyone to get valuable data. The objectives and methods are simple:
Step 1. We send you a trawl with easy instructions
Step 2. You sail, collect samples and dry them out according to our protocols
Step 3. You mail the trawl to the next sailor somewhere in the world
Step 4. We process the samples and import data to 5gyres.org
The Suitcase Manta Trawl
The Suitcase Manta Trawl has a 60cm wide mouth that dips 25cm into the sea surface. Tow it behind your vessel for a few miles at 2-3 knots. The removable sock at the end of the net captures what we’re looking for. For shipping, the wings are removed, and the entire trawl is packaged in a medium-size suitcase.
The Winged Trawl
The Winged Trawl has a 40cm wide mouth that dips 25cm into the sea surface. The procedures are all the same. This trawl is easier to transport and store on a sailboat. It can be deployed from the side or rear of the boat, as long as it remains outside of the boat’s wake. Contact us for more information about our protocols and loan program.
