PRESS RELEASE

GhostNet Debris-tracking Buoys Deployed – 08/16/2005

The first four Ghostnet debris-tracking buoys have been deployed in the open ocean under the Ghostnet Volunteer Ship program. The program is run by Airborne Technologies of Wasilla, Alaska with support from NOAA Fisheries (SWFSC and PIFSC), NOAA Research, and NOAA Satellites and Information.

Captain Charles Moore of the RV Alguita (Algalita Marine Research Foundation) was supplied with the tracking buoys and the likely locations of debris before he left port for a cruise to the area of the Northeastern Pacific Ocean commonly known as “the Eastern Garbage Patch”. The likely locations of debris were identified from NOAA and NASA satellite data supplied by Live Access Servers at the Environmental Research Division of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Updates on oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the area of interest were transmitted to RV Alguita via satellite telephone throughout the survey in order to optimize sampling efforts.

The tagged nets will be monitored until they can be removed from the ocean; comparison of the actual movements with environmental conditions derived from models and satellite data will allow the refinement of debris transport models in aid of eventual removal of the debris before it threatens essential coastal marine habitat and safe navigation.