A plastic ocean, documentary film, reviewed

A shocking documentary, with a serious message, but also some grounds for hope also.

A plastic ocean, documentary film, reviewed

This is a documentary with a deadly serious story to tell. At this stage we have probably all heard about the floating island of plastic waste, rubbish and detritus out in the pacific. As these makers of this film demonstrate it is much more than that, especially once you get down to the level of micro plastics and their ability to attract and absorb toxic chemicals as well. The scenes of dead birds stomachs cut open to reveal just how much plastic they have eaten in their short and tragic lives. In one scene they count over 200 separate pieces of plastic, comprising 15% of the dead bird’s body weight.

While this documentary was made in 2016 it is still shocking and relevant as we gain a clearer understanding of how interconnected our whole world is. The life styles we lead, the rubbish we produce and the impact it has on the other species we share the planet with. While most of the film is tough, but vital viewing, the final section does at least outline some positive solutions that are being developed to help counter the plastic problems we have created and inflicted upon the whole planet. One of these initiatives has been developed by Plastic Bank, whose CEO and cofounder, David Katz, we will be interviewing for the Irish Tech News podcast this week.

More about the documentary from the Plastic Oceans website

If it was happening in one gyre, they suspected it was happening in all of them. But the filmmakers needed experts to prove it.

Scientists were brought in at each stage to analyze the findings from one part of the story to add their data to the overall report on the five gyres.

In the center of the Pacific Ocean gyre researchers found more plastic than plankton. A Plastic Ocean documents the newest science, proving how plastics, once they enter the oceans, 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.

Producer Jo Ruxton joined an expedition to the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the North Pacific Gyre, 1500 miles off the coast of San Francisco, to ascertain its impact. When the expedition discovered free-floating microplastics instead of an anticipated solid mass that could be contained, Jo knew she had to begin the film that would become A Plastic Ocean.

Jo had worked for the WWF International in Hong Kong and partnered with director and journalist Craig Leeson. Their first collaboration was on a documentary about endangered Pink Dolphins in Hong Kong.

Jo and Craig brought on Dr. Lindsay Porter, an expert in cetaceans (whales and dolphins).

Together they contacted the world’s experts to see what was known about plastic pollution in the gyres.

The team expanded to include Dr. Bonnie Monteleone who had already found microplastic in other gyres she had investigated. She joined the expedition to the South Pacific gyre.

With new information emerging about the extent of the issue in each of the Ocean gyres, free diving champion Tanya Streeter joined the team. Together they set off on what would be a four-year global odyssey to explore the issue of plastics in our oceans and its effect on marine ecosystems and human health, including endocrine disruption.

More about Plastic Bank

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