Recover 5 Million Pounds of Ocean Plastic

Hello friends and supporters,

Ocean Blue Project is thrilled to share with everyone our progress and ambitious goals as we embark on a new and promising year. We are moving forward with determination to protect our one world ocean and coastlines. Ocean Blue’s Plastic Disaster Relief Program was developed to make a significant impact in the fight against plastic pollution, especially in the wake of devastating natural disasters.

As the Ocean Blue Team puts in place our new headquarters in the lovely town of Lottsburg, Virginia, located near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, we are reminded of the important role this watershed plays in the health of our oceans.

The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, is an essential ecosystem that supports an incredible diversity of marine life and serves as a natural filter for the water that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Our team is currently assessing over 10,000 miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in Virginia and Maryland, both by land and by sea, to document and address the pressing issue of illegal dumping and land-based pollution.

One of the most alarming, according to our assessments, is the prevalence of cans and bottles carelessly thrown by people driving vehicles along roadsides adjacent to streams and rivers. This upstream pollution crisis is one cause of the degradation of our waterways and, ultimately, our ocean. With the help of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), we are working eagerly to tackle this issue head-on. 

It is essential to note that Virginia currently does not have a bottle bill unlike the ten states that have implemented legislation to incentivize recycling and prevent environmental destruction caused by discarded cans and bottles. These states, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont, have seen cleaner roadsides and waterways because of the recycling incentives provided by their bills.

While our “Create a Cleanup program” is a vital component of our education and leadership development efforts, which engages volunteers to lead cleanups across the US, the majority of the debris removal is carried out by our dedicated Ocean Blue team members. This staff-led initiative requires substantial funding to cover the costs of equipment, storage and sorting facilities and to support the team who tirelessly works on the ground and in the water to make this program a success. Your generous donations are important to the operation and expansion of this program, enabling Ocean Blue to make a tangible difference in the fight against plastic pollution.

In 2023, Ocean Blue Project achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing our goal of removing 1 million pounds of plastic and debris from U.S. beaches and waterways two years ahead of schedule. This incredible accomplishment was made possible by the unwavering support of donors like you, who share our commitment to ocean stewardship. As we set our sights on an even more ambitious target of removing 5 million pounds of plastic and debris by the end of 2025, we are grateful for your continued support in helping us reach this goal.

To help our mission, Ocean Blue Project is working with university researchers to study how microplastics in the ocean affect the food chain. This teamwork aims to create big changes and reduce plastic waste in our oceans. Also, the new technology for cleaning up ocean plastic will help with global efforts to remove plastic.

As we welcome the new year, we invite you to join us in our mission to protect and preserve our oceans. Your support is vital to the success of our programs, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to ocean stewardship. Together, we can work towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for our One World Ocean.

Thank you for being an integral part of the Ocean Blue Project family. May the coming year bring us closer to our shared vision of pristine oceans and thriving marine ecosystems.

Warmly, 

Karisa Arterbury

Director of Operations

www.oceanblueproject.org