This Giving Tuesday, Yoloha is proud to partner with the Ocean Voyages Institute (OVI), a non-profit organization dedicated to removing debris and marine trash from the ocean. On November 29, 2022, 100% of Yoloha’s profits will be donated to OVI to help them reach their goal of removing one million pounds of plastic from the ocean.
“It is clear, now is the time, our global ocean is at a crucial crossroads. Our ocean cannot be our toxic waste dump. Project Kaisei, established in 2009, continues to inspire innovation on both land and at sea, finding ways to stop our escalation of single-use plastics and to clean-up our decades of ocean abuse.” - Mary Crowley (OVI Founder)
The Problem
The problem with plastic pollution has grown out of hand. With less than 5% of plastic being recycled and more plastic being produced than ever before, The Plastic Vortex also known as the "Garbage Patch" has inevitably formed in the northern region of the Pacific Ocean. Technically referred to as the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, this area is reportedly a hub for floating patches of garbage
“We live in a time when nearly every problem has a solution. We must make protecting 72% of our planet a priority. The health of our blue heart – the global ocean is vital to our own health and health of the planet. Project Kaisei and our collaborators around the world believe now is the time to protect our ocean.” Mary Crowley
Project Kaisai
Project Kaisei is the ocean clean-up initiative of Ocean Voyages Institute. It was established to focus on major ocean clean-up and to raise awareness regarding the global problem of marine debris/ocean trash. Since its inception in 2009, Project Kaisei heralds the need for our ocean ecosystem to recover and takes action both on land and in the sea. To date, Ocean Voyages / Project Kaisei has:
- Sailed S/V Kaisei, Project Kaisei’s flagship, on three scientific voyages to the North Pacific Gyre, 2009, 2011 & 2012
- Participated in maritime education festivals in San Diego, California and Richmond City, British Columbia
- Convened a Marine Debris Collection Equipment Think Tank\
- Made educational presentations all over the world
- Received national and international recognition
- Created a documentary for educational distribution (in final editing)
The Mission
As of 2022, OVI has successfully removed 692,000 pounds of garbage from the ocean bringing them closer to their goal of one million pounds. Learn more about their journey in the video below:
