Mystic hopes to show the consequences of plastic pollution
Dale
Wolbrink
Plastic
pollution is one of the hottest topics in news today. Consumers are flooded
with information from daunting statistics to collective action campaigns and
proposed regulation. Mystic Aquarium is doing its part to help turn the tide with the upcoming opening of its new Plastic Free Seas on Saturday, April 6, 2019.
“We
are excited to announce our upcoming exhibit entitled, Plastic Free Seas,”
said Katie Cubina, Senior Vice President, Mission Programs for Mystic Aquarium.
“Plastic pollution is found in almost every marine habitat around the world. We believe it is our responsibility as a strong community partner and one of the nation's leading aquariums to inform, educate and empower people to reduce sources of plastic pollution as we strive to make a consistent, positive impact on the ocean planet.”
“Plastic pollution is found in almost every marine habitat around the world. We believe it is our responsibility as a strong community partner and one of the nation's leading aquariums to inform, educate and empower people to reduce sources of plastic pollution as we strive to make a consistent, positive impact on the ocean planet.”
Mystic Aquarium has a stated mission to inspire people to care for and protect our ocean planet through conservation, education and research.
From
macro- to micro-plastics, the new exhibit highlights the various types of
plastics in the environment as well as threats they pose to wildlife.
“But
we have hope,” said MaryEllen Mateleska, Mystic Aquarium’s Director of
Education and Conservation. “There are both individual and collective actions
that can be taken now to reduce additional plastic pollution.”
Interactive
components of Plastic Free Seas, like Draper’s microplastic sensing
system and a plastic debris simulation, provide a unique perspective to plastic
pollution. Local conservation heroes are also featured in the upcoming exhibit.
Draper
uses technology to create solutions to solve some of the world’s most difficult
and important problems. Currently developing the world’s first underwater
real-time microplastic sensing system in partnership with the Environmental
Protective Agency, the goal of Draper’s system is to understand the sources and
movements of microplastics to help to determine mitigation options.
Support
for Plastic Free Seas comes from The Naktenis
Family Foundation, Draper and StoneRidge.
Plastic
Free Seas
will be open just in time for spring break for schools around New England and
Mystic Aquarium’s family-friendly vacation week activities.