Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

“Without the LYYN, our program would not have had the same impact on the kids. We had about 10″ of visibility in the Providence River and the LYYN unit helped our view go from a green/gray blur to a world of huge crabs and pilings and parts of shipwrecks.”

Sea floor debris

Ships bell

more trash

cup and a lot of trash

See what you can find!

Rachael Miller and her audience of excited kids

Hello people who love to play on, near or in the water!

As we look toward the quickly approaching liquid water season (which we are as excited for as always), we are also very excited to announce the launch of the Rozalia Project. James and I are sick of seeing trash in the water, we are disgusted by the damage it does to marine animals, to beaches, to boats and the coast and we are scared by the fact that chemicals from plastics are ending up in the human food chain via the sea.

We are taking action and have founded the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean.

Starting this summer, we will be traveling the northeast coast at selected sites from New Jersey to the top of Maine to pick up trash, record data and engage and entertain the coastal and sea-going public on marine debris, it’s problems, prevention and solutions.

While we will be using nets to catch debris on the surface the centerpiece of our efforts will be a combination of high tech pieces of equipment: a VideoRay ROV (remotely operated vehicle – an underwater robot) with a Lyyn image enhancement system used alongside a Tritech Starfish side scan sonar. This combination of technology will allow us to find and remove debris with little to no impact on the seafloor (as opposed to dragging or grappling, a technique that is currently being used) even in deep, dark water.

We will come with our boat and equipment to you… to sailing centers, yacht clubs, waterfront organizations, your favorite kite or windsurfing venue, towns, your family’s beachfront… and clean it up. We will record the data and we will offer hands-on activities, opportunities to join us as guest scientists and give slide show presentations for kids and adults in your community.

This problem is immediate and dangerous. Beyond killing marine mammals, turtles, sea birds and fish, plastic and marine debris is affecting human health and economic well-being. There are islands of trash in the Pacific bigger than the state of Texas. We feel that no pile is too big and that we can and will make a difference.

You can make a difference too. Please join us by:

-Matching us with funding sources, foundations, companies and individuals who are concerned about this problem and looking for someone taking action to support whether that is yourself, friends or colleagues. We are incorporated as a Vermont non-profit and our federal 501(c)(3) non-profit status is being processed.

-Helping us identify clubs, schools and organizations who will have us come and pick up trash, run programs and give presentations this summer.

-Connecting us with research, survey or other charter opportunities. Our boat, our equipment and our captains/operators will be available for charter to complete research missions and projects throughout the northeast. This will also help fund our clean up efforts.

-Coordinating with organizers of beach clean-ups or other groups with similar goals. With our equipment, we are a great on the water compliment to a shore-side clean up effort.

-Introducing us to media or other opportunities to spread the word about what we are doing and the problem of marine debris.

-Checking out our web site: www.rozaliaproject.org, become a fan on Facebook, join the discussion with your own experiences of marine debris and pass this email on to everyone you know who enjoys the ocean.

And of course, you will be helping us by reducing your own use of disposable grocery bags and water bottles, making sure that all of your debris is secure and picking up trash that is in your path when you hit the water this summer.

We are looking forward to the summer and working with US Sailing to help spread the word, our technology partners to find and remove trash on the bottom and all of you for support, trash pick up and building contacts.

I can be reached at rachael@rozaliaproject.org or by calling 802-578-6120. Send us a note or give us a call if you have connections, ideas or a location that needs cleaning.

Thank you in advance and we hope you will join us any way you can to clean up marine debris for all the reasons we love the sea.

Think clean ocean,

rzm

Rachael Z. Miller
rachael@rozaliaproject.org
www.rozaliaproject.org
802-578-6120