Project Kaisei - Mission

Goals and Outcomes

Significant benefit to society
Significant benefit to society in terms of education, large scale environmental awareness, and increased knowledge of the importance of our ocean.
Valid information
Valid information on the scope and status of the North Pacific Gyre to help focus education efforts and research to address marine debris at sea.
Education on environmental
Education on environmental and health issues that result from the research conducted by Project Kaisei.
Awareness building
Awareness building about restoring the health of marine life and fisheries.
Possible new solutions for the debris problem
Test treatment technologies and processes, possible clean-up strategies within the gyre, improved land-based recycling programs, improved legislation (land/sea).
Increased awareness of individual responsibility
The products which we consume and how we handle those wastes.
Increased participation
Increased participation from the private sector and civil society in expanded environmental projects and community campaigns, spurred on and inspired by Project Kaisei.

Watch the movie for initial results from the SEAPLEX and Kaisei Mission, August 2009

Educational Activities

Every Day Should Be World Ocean Day Ocean Voyages Institute / Project Kaisei encourages you to join people around the planet to celebrate and honor the global ocean which links us all. It’s up to each one of us to help ensure that our ocean is protected and conserved for future generations. You are part of the solution.

Change perspective – encourage individuals to think about what the ocean means to them and what it has to offer all of us with hopes of conserving it for present and the future generations.

Learn – discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, how our daily actions affect them, and how we are all interconnected.

Change our ways – we are all linked to, and through, the ocean! By taking care of your backyard, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Making small modifications to your everyday habits will greatly benefit our blue planet.

Celebrate – whether you live inland or on the coast we are all connected to the ocean; take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate our world ocean.

Thanks and congratulations to The Ocean Project and The World Ocean Network for helping to promote and coordinate this event since 2002.

Take Action

A key solution to eliminating plastic waste in our global ocean is to halt the flow of materials from shore. Each one of us can have a positive impact by taking personal responsibility and a few easy steps. Many people making small changes can make a big difference for our global ocean and environment.

Lead by Example

Make a conscious decision
Make a conscious decision to stop using single use plastic and styrofoam items such as forks, plates, cups, etc in you and your family’s day to day life whenever possible.
Replace single and limited
Replace single and limited use disposable plastic items with long-lasting durable ones, (metal, ceramic or glass containers for beverages and foods, canvas bags for shopping, etc) which can be re-used.
Drink the good quality tap water
Drink the good quality tap water or install a water filter in your home and ask your work to do the same. This simple step can give you great clean water, saves you money and greatly reduces waste created from single use plastic water bottles.

Educate and Encourage

Educate your family
Educate your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about the effects incorrectly disposed of plastic waste is having on our environment, both on shore and in the ocean.
Encourage people
Encourage people to make changes in their consumption of single use plastic by putting alternatives in their hand, stainless water bottles and canvas bags can be great gifts!
Become involved
Become involved with your local, city and county government to be sure they are fostering sound environmental policy.
Choose elected officials
Choose elected officials that are working to create, support and enact responsible environmental policies.

Become an Advocate

Volunteer and support
Volunteer and support the organizations such as Project Kaisei who are working on solutions to this problem. Participate in clean-up events such as cleanup of beaches, parks, waterways, roads, etc. If you don’t have any active clean up events in your area, then start one!
Buy products
Buy products that follow principles of sustainability. Purchase fresh locally grown produce and foods which are not packaged and shipped from out of the area.
Look at the products you buy
Look at the products you buy. Make sure they are made from recycled materials. Look at alternative products which use minimal plastic and/or recycled materials.
Contact companies
Contact companies and tell them to use environmentally sound packaging in their products.