INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Bermuda Waters Part of Research Into Plastic Pollution

Published: Mon 1 Feb 2010 02:02 PM
VZCZCXRO3055
RR RUEHHT
DE RUEHHT #0021 0321407
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011407Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL HAMILTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3999
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0952
RUEHHT/AMCONSUL HAMILTON 2177
UNCLAS HAMILTON 000021
SIPDIS
EUR/WE (J. MARBURG AND D. PARADISE);
EUR/PPD (L. MCMANIS AND A. PIPKIN)
LONDON (R. HUBER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV BD
SUBJECT: BERMUDA WATERS PART OF RESEARCH INTO PLASTIC POLLUTION
1. (U) Local environmental group, Greenrock, hosted Global
Pangaea Explorations, the owner of the research vessel "Sea
Dragon," which is engaged in the first comprehensive study of
plastic pollution in the world's oceans. The "Sea Dragon" was
in Bermuda as part of a research voyage across the Sargasso Sea
in the North Atlantic Ocean, collecting samples to study plastic
accumulation and studying fish for possible plastic ingestion
and toxins in their tissues. The voyage is part of a larger
look at plastic pollution in the South Atlantic and North
Pacific gyres.
2. (U) The American scientists were dismayed that every
sample collected contained plastics. The "Sea Dragon" crew
participated in a cleanup of Bermuda beaches, during which they
gathered a lot of trash, most of which originated from the U.S.
The crew also gave presentations to school groups and liaised
with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, a U.S. marine
research and education nonprofit founded in Bermuda in 1903.
Comment
3. (U) The Consulate took advantage of the "Sea Dragon's"
trip to bring together a group of environmental supporters and
government representatives at an event on January 22. CONGEN
plans to partner with Greenrock to promote the World Wildlife
Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour on March 27, during which Bermudians
will be asked to turn off their lights for one hour. The WWF
recognized Bermuda as a flagship country for Earth Hour 2009.
SHELTON
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