RESEARCH EXPEDITIONS
5 Gyres was originally founded with the goal to investigate key unanswered questions about plastic pollution. We explored 50,000 nautical miles in search of plastic on 19 research expeditions, publishing groundbreaking research, building a global network, and inspiring change along the way.
Expedition Highlights:
GALAPAGOS AND ECUADOR (2019)
Our 19th Expedition traveled throughout the Galapagos Islands in July and August 2019 on the 65.8-meter s/s Mary Anne. An international group of 28 passengers joined 5 Gyres staff to explore the region and raise awareness about plastic pollution, locally and to our global community. Prior to the Expedition, TrashBlitz Guayaquil was executed in partnership with Plastico and Mingas Por El Mar, where more than 60 local environmental representatives were trained in TrashBlitz methods and collected data as part of Phase I of TrashBlitz Guayaquil. TrashBlitz Guayaquil was completed in early Fall 2019.
BALI EXPEDITION (2018)
Our 18th Expedition traveled over 700 nautical miles between Flores Island and Lombok in Indonesia in July and August 2018 on a 37.5-meter Phinisi Buginese Schooner called the KLM. Sea Safari VII. An international group of 52 passengers joined 5 Gyres staff to carry out a number of citizen science activities, explore the region, and raise awareness about plastic pollution, locally and to our global community.
BELIZE EXPEDITION (2017)
5 Gyres joined the Hello Ocean Expedition to research environmental threats to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. The crew included scientists, artists and filmmakers, who assisted in marine mammal and plastic pollution research. For the first time, 5 Gyres was able to collect microplastic samples alongside scientists researching toxins, genetics, and animal behavior in dolphins and manatees. We are excited to better connect the issue of plastic pollution to marine mammal health! Data contributed to the world’s first Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution.
ARCTIC EXPEDITION (2016)
Our 17th Expedition gathered a group of 22 citizen scientists for two weeks on the Arctic exploration vessel Akademik Sergey Vavilov. The expedition primarily focused on micro- and nanoplastic research. It was managed by ExploringCircle, which donates a percentage of proceeds to non-profit organizations like 5 Gyres, and was the first to share real-time data and photo updates with our community.
SEA CHANGE EXPEDITION (2015)
As documented in the "Smog of the Sea" film directed by Ian Cheney, our 2015 SEA Change Expedition traveled over 3,000 nautical throughout the North Atlantic Gyre with a crew of 64 citizen scientists. Along with the Schooner Mystic crew of 14 sailors, the voyage also transported representatives from other nonprofit organizations and research facilities, as well as notable watermen and women, such as musician and activist Jack Johnson and ocean conservation activist Celine Cousteau.
VIKING GYRE EXPEDITION (2014)
5 Gyres' Expedition from Bermuda to Iceland was designed with the intention to better understand the distribution of plastic pollution in the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre. The 14-person crew collected 41 samples to determine microplastic concentrations in the region and carried out 40 visual observations to track the macroplastic pollution in the area. Data contributed to 5 Gyres' first Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution.
Previous 5 Gyres Expeditions
2013 Bermuda to Rhode Island
2013 Lake Michigan
2012 Japan to Hawaii
2012 Marshall Islands to Hawaii
2012 Lakes Superior, Huron and Erie
2011 Hawaii to Vancouver
2011 Easter Island to Tahiti
2011 Chile to Easter Island
2011 Namibia to Uruguay
2010 Brazil to South Africa
2010 Ascension Island
2010 Bermuda to Azores
2010 Bahamas to Bermuda
2009 Los Angeles to Hawaii