![\"Emily](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/m_Emily-and-trawl.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEmily deploys the trawl<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nWe found quite a few very small fragments which were unfortunately
\nclearly plastic on our first trawl. On the second, it was a lot harder
\nto spot and we are still unsure whether there were clear plastic pieces.
\nSo now we just have to wait until we get back when Emily will send off
\nthe samples found by the trawl to be further analysed.<\/p>\n
![\"Nera](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/m_Nera-and-Emily-look-for-plastic.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNera and Emily examine what the trawl has picked up<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nNera: What is the use of trawling for plastic?<\/p>\n
Emily: It\u2019s so we can understand how much plastic is in the ocean, where
\nit\u2019s accumulating, whether or not it\u2019s breaking down, if it\u2019s harming
\nmarine life, where it\u2019s coming from, and how to stop more plastic
\ngetting into the ocean.<\/p>\n
Nera: Why is it so important to complete trawls in the Arctic?<\/p>\n
Emily: We have very little understanding on how much plastic is in
\nArctic waters so the samples we collect will build on that knowledge. We
\nwill be able to see how far into this remote region just how far our
\nplastic has managed to reach.<\/p>\n
![\"this](\"http:\/\/cornellsailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/m_Blue-plastic-in-5mm-square-grid.jpg\")
<\/p>\nthis plastic fragment we found is less than 2 mm long<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nNera: How can anyone get involved?<\/p>\n
Emily: You can get involved by going to your nearest waterway (the sea
\nor any river) and look at any plastics you find there. You can use an
\napp called Marine debris tracker which allows you to log how much
\nplastic you find and the types. You could also set up a plastic clean up
\nwith your local school.<\/p>\n
You can also reduce your personal plastic consumption by thinking about
\nsingle use plastic like plastic bags or drinks bottles which are
\ndesigned to only be used once.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On the boat we have an ongoing science program which includes the Secchi disk which I haven\u2019t had a chance to use yet and will include in later blogs, and also the plastic trawl which …<\/p>\n