Roar: The Deep Blue Sea

Courtesy of Anna Cummins and Stiv Wilson

By Jennifer Olson

Of the world’s five major gyres (systems of circulating ocean currents where plastic debris tends to accumulate), only the North Pacific Gyre had been extensively researched for plastic pollution—until Anna Cummins came onto the scene. She sailed the world researching the extent of the world’s plastic pollution problem, tested her own blood for pollutants, rode her bike across two continents raising awareness, and is now stirring the movement toward a solution and eliminating marine pollution, one plastic bag at a time.

She’s been environmentally aware since age 14 when she grasped the links between daily habits and environmental health, becoming a vegetarian and eventually launching a “Bring Your Own” campaign in Los Angeles to discourage single-use plastics. “Simple choices have far-reaching impacts,” Anna says, but she’s the perfect example of how one simple choice can lead to another.

Her lifestyle of focused learning, spontaneity, and activism steered her toward marine conservation and non-profit work. She started by volunteering on an expedition with Captain Charles Moore’s Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Three weeks of sailing off the Baja coast collecting albatross stomach samples opened her eyes. “Every sample,” Anna says, “had plastic in it—lots of plastic. The boluses [that albatross regurgitate] should be full of squid beaks and partially digested fish, but these were full of our synthetic waste.”

Anna’s next expedition was a month-long 4,000-mile journey from Los Angeles to Hawaii with Dr. Marcus Eriksen, who saw eye-to-eye with Anna on the plastics issue. Several things profoundly impacted her on this trip. “For one,” Anna says, “I expected to see an island of garbage the size of Texas. But it was more dispersed.” Plastic was spread over thousands of miles, even broken into particles called confetti. Her second realization: It’s getting in the food chain. They collected 671 samples of fish that normally feed on plankton. Thirty-five percent had plastic in their stomachs. “These fish aren’t commonly food for people,” Anna says, “but they are food for fish like tuna and mahi-mahi that humans do eat.”

The third unmentioned thing that impacted Anna: Marcus. “Somewhere in the middle of the gyre, he made a little ring out of trash and proposed,” she says. “That’s where we decided to spend our lives as a couple and as colleagues doing this work together.”

And that’s exactly what they do. Anna and Marcus incorporated 5 Gyres in 2009 and became the first to research plastic pollution on a global scale. They’ve carried out adventurous awareness campaigns and, as of this year, completed research in all five gyres. “I’ve seen enough to know we have a problem, so now is a good time to step back and engage people in the work we’re doing,” Anna says, emphasizing her aim to educate communities and encourage better daily choices.

Anna and Marcus succeed because of their common goal to “make a difference in the world—not just with plastic but through sustainability in a world that’s gone mad,” says 5 Gyres communications director, Stiv Wilson. Plastic pollution, in particular, hits closer to home than some issues. “As a woman who’s thinking about kids now,” Anna says, “I wonder about the pollutants in my body and worry about passing them to the next generation.” Stiv puts it more plainly, “It scares the crap out of her. That’s just plain wrong, and it’s personal.” That personal hazard inspires all of Anna’s work.

Anna is spending this fall sharing research findings, promoting solutions, and engaging the public to reduce plastic pollution. 5 Gyres’ “Waste to Waves Solutions Tour” aims to educate about plastic marine debris and propagate hands-on solutions on both U.S. coasts. In the works are tools, such as a pocket-sized “solutions card” and an iPhone app with info and tips to reduce plastic pollution.

A life dedicated to marine conservation isn’t so bad, though, Anna says. “I’m a community and family-oriented person, so it’s tough when I’m away. But I love the adventure. Sometimes Marcus and I look at each other and say, ‘For two people who didn’t have much money going into this, we’ve gotten to see a lot, meet people around the world, and make a difference.’” In the way of encouraging other women with a passion for a cause, Anna says, “If you dive in and start making it happen, people step up and support you.” n

Simple ways to rid the world of disposable plastics:

• 5 seconds: Bring your own re-usable bags. Ask for your drink “with no straw please!”
• 5 minutes: Bring your own coffee mug. Carry a reusable water bottle. Pick up 3 pieces of trash a day.
• 5 hours: Participate in a local beach cleanup. Get your local coffee shop/market to offer a discount for reusables. Shop at farmers’ markets for local produce (sans packaging).
• 5 days: Volunteer with a local environmental organization.
• 5 weeks: Join 5 Gyres on a sailing expedition to research plastic pollution at sea. Visit 5gyres.org to learn more.