Rozalia Project Trash Tour: Marine debris pick up and adventure off the coast of New England
Our mission is to find and remove marine debris. Our focus is on action, technology, research and hands-on education and experience. Our trash-hunting mothership is the sailing research-vessel, American Promise and we are cleaning the whole water column from the surface to the sea floor using nets and ROV/sonar technology - all with the general public onboard for an educational adventure that has a positive effect on the marine environment.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Rachael
Last Name
Miller
Organization
Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean
Country
United States
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
Rozalia Project
Organization Website
Organization Phone
802-578-6120
Organization Address
PO Box 75, Granville, VT 05747
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, VT, Addison County
Your idea
Name Your Project
Rozalia Project Trash Tour: Marine debris pick up and adventure off the coast of New England
Country your work focuses on
United States
Describe Your Idea
Our mission is to find and remove marine debris. Our focus is on action, technology, research and hands-on education and experience. Our trash-hunting mothership is the sailing research-vessel, American Promise and we are cleaning the whole water column from the surface to the sea floor using nets and ROV/sonar technology - all with the general public onboard for an educational adventure that has a positive effect on the marine environment.
Website URL
Would you like to participate in the MIF Opportunity 2010?
No
Innovation
What makes your idea unique and innovative?
Rozalia Project is going beyond beach clean-ups and giving people an opportunity to help be part of the solution to marine debris by using equipment most only see on TV and getting people offshore surrounded by the resource they are protecting and improving. Joining Rozalia Project for a week of trash pick up, outreach and research is like living in a Discovery Channel episode. We use ROV’s equipped with imaging sonar and manipulators for sub-surface searching and zero impact trash removal. Participants learn everything from specifics about marine debris to how to handle the ROV and tether, read the sonar and sort and record details about the trash we pick up. We pause and observe sea life and explore shipwrecks, all with the ROV, an engaging tool that brings everyone underwater whatever their age or swimming ability because we all stay dry onboard our trash-hunting mothership, American Promise.
American Promise set the non-stop, solo, around-the-world sailing record in 1986 and our guests will learn about everything from navigation to sail handling to ship’s systems. In her 60’, she has berths for 10, plenty of space on deck for trash recovery and room below for ROV/sonar control. She is not just another boat and this is not just another sunset sail. This is an experience that blends high technology with the joys of sailing while making a significant, positive impact on the marine environment.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had on your clients and the tourism sector?
Ooohhhhs and ahhhhhhh’s and some revelations. Our experience has been that learning about marine debris, its effects and the amount of time it takes common items to breakdown in the marine environment shocks and surprises people of all ages. The shock (usually accompanied by an audible gasp) is often followed by motivation. And that is before we put the ROV in the water and people see piles and piles of trash on bottom of a river or bay. More significantly, on the bottom of their river or bay.
We have delivered our marine debris programs to both youth and adults individually and part of summer programs. The feedback we received from Program Directors was that the experience had a lasting and significant impact. Instructors observed our participants picking up trash and overheard them talking about the problem long after our program. That is exactly what we hope for, that being able to experience something unique, whether that is using the ROV and the technology or simply seeing what is underwater for the first time (live and on-site rather than in an aquarium), generates a stronger, more lasting reaction and a change in behavior toward increased stewardship and respect for the marine environment than if people just watch, passively while other (luckier) people get their hands wet and dirty.
Problem
Our planet has one big ocean that connects us all. That means that any trash is everyone’s trash. The effects of marine debris are as staggering and far-reaching from entrapment of sea creatures to habitat destruction, destroying the economic vitality and potential of coastal communities, ghost fishing, ingestion, transportation of invasive and alien species and fouling propellers to bringing plastics and chemicals into the human food chain.
While we believe most people know trash should not end up in the ocean, we also believe that few truly understand the significant impact of that trash, the sheer volume now circulating around the world, how it gets there or how they can make sure they are part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Actions
We feel the problem of marine debris needs to be addressed through clean-up, prevention (in the form of education and outreach) and research. Our Trash Tour will make trash pick-up and outreach visits in: NY Harbor (Brooklyn), Oyster Bay, Narragansett Bay (Providence, Bristol and Newport), New Bedford, Marblehead, Nantucket and then study and find areas of significant debris accumulation off the coast of Maine.
Each outreach visit will include interactive, engaging, hands-on marine debris programs dockside and onboard American Promise. These programs feature trash pick-up, not just passive education or lectures. People of all ages will be involved using nets to skim the surface and helping with the ROV and sonars to clean the sea floor.
The research study will take participants offshore to find marine debris, especially that associated with fishing, in convergence zones, tide-lines and eddies associated with the Eastern Maine Coastal Current (EMCC). Our area of interest is off Penobscot Bay south to Matinicus Island and Northeast to Grand Manan close to the source of the debris itself and where there are significant changes in direction and speed of the EMCC.
Results
We project that during the Trash Tour in 2011, we will cover 1,765 miles and remove approximately 9.4 tons of marine debris. We will reach a projected 5,000 people who will join us onboard or take part in dockside programs. We will leave a legacy of action at our host facilities that includes another 2,000 people taking part in removing 1.6 tons of marine debris after our visit.
Our expected results for the research study include removing 4.8 tons of trash and discovering cost-effective ways to find areas of significant offshore marine debris associated with changes in coastal flow, debris that is removed closer to its source before it journeys out to the bigger oceanic circulation patterns.
Whether we are considering the outreach or the research part of Rozalia Project’s Trash Tour, a result we expect is to have included, educated and inspired people to improve and protect the ocean.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
We are extremely confident in the equipment we use and the methods we have developed (though we are always looking to improve our programs, information and delivery). Partnerships, participants, media (spreading the word) and funding will make our project successful. Our funding model has two parts: foundation/grant funding and geotourism: selling berths aboard American Promise to join us to for the Trash Tour.
2011: This year will be successful if we are able to put together meaningful, engaging and well-attended programs at each of our host facilities. In addition, we will need to attract motivated people to fill our berths and make up the difference in grant funding. This year will be very important for a big presence in the media both nationally and at each of our Tour locations.
2012: Continuing to build a strong program and to use experiences from 2011 to improve will be key in 2012. In addition, this will be a year to expand geographically. Our goal is to continue our work in higher and higher latitudes up the Northeast coast into Canada’s Maritimes with our same focus on marine debris prick-up, research and outreach. We hope to have built a reputation as a fun, educational and worthwhile adventure and see an increase in participants because of that. This year, we hope to have developed strong supporting, sustaining partnerships with select companies.
2013: This will be a consolidation year to assess and compare our experiences from a breadth of locations. We will develop and execute strategies to continue our mission. By this time, our goal is to have a steady stream of participants filling berths and recognition for our work in the outreach/education and tourism fields as well as in the scientific field of marine debris. We expect to have had success with supplemental grant and sponsorship funding and have brought a positive image to our partners.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Ultimately, like any business, it comes down to funding. Again, we are confident in our product and the experience we give people. We have plans for everything from bad weather to strong current, low visibility, sea sickness and more and we feel secure in our initial partnerships.
With berths full, our model works and needs very little additional support to sustain. While we are running with empty berths (which we plan to fill with journalists and other people who can help spread the word how great and unique this experience is until we are full of paying participants), we will need to secure grant, foundation or private support. In addition, we need to spread the word through advertising and even better, editorial media. This currently is one of our biggest challenges due to cost but so important since this exposure will help us fill berths.
How many people will your project serve annually?
1001‐10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Don't know
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy or introduce models and tools that benefit the tourism sector in general?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for less than a year
In what country?
United States
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Rozalia Project
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Thanks to our technology partners, we have $80,000 in ROV, sonar and image enhancement equipment that drives our program and frees resources for other requirements. Thanks to our host facilities, we have access to run our dockside programs and even more importantly access to thousands of people of all ages to learn about marine debris and help pick it up. Thanks to partnerships with local groups at our Tour locations (such as Clean the Bay in Narrangansett Bay) we will be able to get more trash picked up and leave behind more inspiration and action.
We are selective and careful in choosing our partners, but once we have established a relationship, we are loyal and enthusiastic partners. We recognize the vital importance they play in our success and hope that we, too, add value to our partner’s own missions.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. Educate the public about the problems and solutions of marine debris: In order to grow, to fill berths on American Promise, and achieve our mission we need people to understand the problem enough to care about solving it. The information about marine debris from its effects on sea creatures to beaches, habitats and especially the evidence that plastics are making their way into the human food chain is compelling but must be communicated effectively. We are working toward this goal by partnering with community sailing centers and waterfront centers, who see hundreds of people a day. In addition, Rozalia Project co-founder, Rachael Miller, is presenting at several conferences – about the problem marine debris and the work Rozalia Project is doing.
2. Increase media exposure: Media is critical to helping us spread the word about the problem of marine debris and about our programs and experiences. We are actively working to create editorial opportunities in publications that are both national and local in scope. Nationally we will build exposure across the coastal, outdoor, sailing and educating communities. Locally, we are working hard to be sure that each community on the Tour hears about our programs and the opportunities to join us. We continue to build our web presence though our web site, blog and social network sites.
3. Secure funding: In terms of moving forward and improving and building our infrastructure, growth will depend on funding. Whether that funding comes from filling our berths onboard American Promise or, in part, from grants or sponsorships, we have a plan and are making decisions that give us the best, most realistic chance at sustainability and sensible growth.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
Frustration and then revelation inspired Rozalia Project. Rachael Miller and James Lyne created Rozalia Project and the unique methods and equipment that set the experience apart.
Frustration: Rachael has always been a sailor and swimmer and in her travels extremely frustrated by trash on the beach and trash in the ocean. She had spent a lot of time just picking up trash on beaches and out of the water and trying to live in a way that does not contribute to the problem.
Revelation: James is also a lifelong sailor, who grew up on the English seacoast in a fishing and seagoing family. James is an excellent, creative out of the box thinker. More on his revelation soon.
Many years ago, in-between sailing regattas, Rachael and James met on Miami Beach. Despite the fact that they would marry a few years later, what Rachael really remembers is the trash on the beach – needles, plastic, diapers and more.
In 2005, in order to connect more people to Lake Champlain, they started the first company in North America to run ROV-assisted shipwreck tours for the general public.
In 2008, James was an US Olympic Sailing Team coach at the Olympic Games sailed in Qingdao. While there, he witnessed firsthand the appearance of the mats of algae that covered all of the competition areas off China’s industrial coast. The algae made an area 70 x 25 miles impassable by sail or motor boat. He then witnessed 100,000 people on the beach and 4,000 boats take just under 1 month to clean it all up. All of it.
Zoom ahead to October 2009, Rachael and James went on vacation to Matinicus Island off the coast of Maine. Every beach had a significant amount of trash. During this vacation, they took stock of their businesses and the big picture. As they picked their way around fishing gear, plastics and other trash, they realized they wanted to use the ROV to connect more people to their underwater world and work beyond Lake Champlain.
Not long after, while Rachael was presenting about their work with shipwreck tours at an ROV conference in Florida, James put it all together and realized that if all of that algae can get cleaned up, they can do something about the problem of marine debris they find so frustrating too. And they already have the technology and expertise in the form of the ROV to do it in a zero-impact way and to start right away.
They named the Project after Rachael’s great-grandmother, Rozalia Belsky who, along with her daughter (and Rachael’s beloved grandmother), came to the US from Russia via the S.S. Madonna to Ellis Island. They wanted to celebrate that the ocean connects us all.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
The inspiration for Rozalia Project came from both Rachael Miller and James Lyne.
Rachael is a water person through and through. An admitted klutz on land, she has been a swimmer and sailor her whole life with as strong a love for being underwater as being on the surface. She has never shied from adventure and learning participating in Outward Bound (at sea) and Sea Education Sea Semester. She studied marine mammal biology and conservation in La Paz, Mexico and Great Barrier reef ecology in Australia. In addition, Rachael spent many hours underwater doing underwater archaeology (her major at Brown University) in the Dry Tortugas.
She led the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center from its start to a thriving, all-access waterfront center and created Stormboarding, a snowkite, kitesurf and windsurfing school. Rachael organizes and runs the Kitestorm, one of North America’s longest running and biggest snowkite festivals, held each year on Lake Champlain. Along with James, she developed and ran North America’s first ROV-assisted shipwreck tours.
Rachael is a natural teacher and truly enjoys both teaching and presenting. She certifies people as ROV pilots and is a US Sailing Instructor Trainer and member of the National Faculty and Training Committee. She brings passion, energy, attention to detail, program planning and development and enthusiastic program delivery and execution to Rozalia Project.
James has a great track record of innovation from producing the first carbon fiber skateboards for Mark “gonz” Gonzales and wing-masts for Olympic class dinghies, to fabricating large art installations for companies such as Levi, recently James had the idea to use ROV’s to let the public view shipwrecks(the first such company in north America), leading directly on from that work and connecting with his passion for the sea, he saw that ROV’S would be the ideal tool for the removal of marine debris from the ocean floor.
James was named to the US Olympic Sailing Team for 2010 and was ranked 2nd overall in the 2010 World Cup.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Friend or family member
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
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