The problem of plastic pollution is growing exponentially; we are producing more than 300 million tons of plastic every year.

Half of this is designed for single use, and each year around 8 million tons of it ends up in our oceans.

In A Plastic Ocean, journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. Craig teams up with free diver Tanya Streeter along with an international team of scientists and researchers, traveling to twenty locations around the world over the next four years to explore the fragile state of our oceans. During their travels, they visit the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the North Pacific Gyre, 1500 miles off the coast of San Francisco, to ascertain the impact of plastic pollution.

There, the team discovers free-floating microplastics instead of an anticipated solid mass that could be contained. A Plastic Ocean backs up this discovery with the newest science, proving how plastics, once they enter the oceans, do indeed break up into small particulates that enter the food chain where they attract toxins like a magnet. These toxins are stored in seafood’s fatty tissues, and eventually consumed by us. Though these facts are sobering, we can solve the problem of plastic pollution by educating and engaging everyone in a conversation to rethink plastic.

Movie screenings begin promptly at 7 PM, and doors will close shortly thereafter to protect the integrity of the Museum space. This is a free event and discussion afterwards is greatly encouraged.

Presented as part of the monthly Environmental Film Series in partnership with the Havre de Grace Green Team.