Advancing plastics research in the Chesapeake Bay

From October 21-31, the first leg of the Chesapeake Bay Plastic Survey went underway. This project is led by the Ocean Research Project, an Annapolis-based nonprofit specializing in research expeditions aboard their sailboat, Marie Tharp, to improve understanding of marine ecosystems. The survey crew included seven sailors and academics, with IAN science communicator, Lili Badri, on board to help with sample collection and promotion of the project across social media platforms. This survey was the first comprehensive assessment of plastics in the Chesapeake Bay and will serve to provide a baseline condition of plastic pollution in the Bay. Additionally, the project aims to create a method for plastic sampling that can be adopted by monitoring agencies so that there is long-term data available for its analysis as a Bay health indicator.

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