POLLUTED PARADISE

For centuries humankind has settled along our coastlines, but for some, myself included, that was never enough. Curiosity got the better of me and the freedom of the unknown ocean became more appealing than the safe haven of the earth beneath my feet. Life at sea is the best way I’ve found to experience nature and for me, the connection to the ocean is incomparable to anything else.

Witnessing first-hand the damage being done to our oceans, I found myself distressed and needed to embark on a path with intention and purpose, and so I confirmed my position on board and packed for a voyage which would carry me more than 5,000 miles from the UK to Panama. I would spend five months on board the 72ft steel yacht, Traveledge, as part of the eXXpedition scientific mission, studying plastic pollution around the world.

The weather and climate affects every living organism on our planet and is governed by the oceans and their currents. Without the ocean, life simply wouldn’t exist. Today, more importantly than ever before, the ocean absorbs around a quarter of the carbon dioxide we humans produce and is one of the largest carbon sinks. It also provides an essential source of food, allows us the possibilities to travel, trade goods but greater