Sealife Conservation Blog

Messaging by Sea (and air…)

sealifeconservation — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:13:49 +0000

Tuesday was another first for the crew of the Derek M Baylis on the Think Beyond Plastic Voyage. We departed the Orange Coast College (OCC) facility at 8 am for a rendezvous with a group of filmers just south of the Newport jetties. We were honored to be hosted by the OCC and their director Brad Avery during our stay in Newport Beach. OCC operates an amazing high end sailing program facing both the Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Harbor where their two primary offshore vessels reside, the Kialoa III and American Eagle (winner of the inaugural Whitbread Round the World race). Brad’s vision has created the most impressive sailing academy that I have ever seen with a keen eye towards developing safe and thoughtful mariners.
Our crew on Tuesday consisted of a few representatives from local Surfrider Chapters professors and students from UC Irvine, and 3 videographers from GreenLandOceanBlue, an environmental film production group. Once outside the jetties we launched into our marine conservation education program and were soon joined by a pod of about 60 Risso dolphin.

After about 40 minutes on the water we heard the roar of a plane about a hundred feet off the ocean which was closing rapidly on our position. As it wheeled around us we saw the Billabong logo on the fuselage and realized the rest of our crew was about to join us. Billabong is one of the more thoughtful surfwear companies on the planet these days, producing surfwear and wetsuits with recycled content. The plane turned about half a mile off our bow and proceeded towards us on final approach. The plane created a huge amount of spray as it landed and taxied alongside us and prepared to disgorge its prized crew. Soon professional surfers Mike Parsons, Grant Baker and Greg Long joined us aboard for the balance of our program. The surfers impressed our crew with their thoughtful comments during the interviews prior to returning to the seaplane. After returning to the plane and accompanied by the very same roar the seaplane rose from the surface and took off to return the precious cargo to the seaplane base in Oceanside.
So what of all the fossil fuel that was burned to create the film segment for the upcoming film? It is quite possible that the plane burned more fuel in its four hour visit up the coast than the Derek M Baylis will burn in the entire month of November on our Think Beyond Plastics Voyage. How does one place a value on the message we are delivering versus the value of the limited resource which was expended to create the message? Perhaps we need to look at consumption in our own lives to gain that perspective. What are we doing as individuals to spread the word and educate our peers about the threats our oceans are facing, about the ways in which we can benefit the seas by changing our consumption habits? How do we benefit the greater good every morning when we hop in our vehicles to drive to work, or to the beach or mountains for recreation? As the parents of the message it is our responsibility as the crew of the Baylis to ensure that GreenLandOceanBlue, Billabong, and the Think Beyond Plastics organization leverage the opportunity that was given to us to spread the gospel on ocean conservation as effectively as possible. We’ve accepted the responsibility completely, so if you’ve got an idea how to more effectively deliver the message with our footage or have thoughts on actions we can take in the future please reply to this blog so that we can step up our game! On that note, what have you done for the ocean today? Please let us know…and if you reside in the San Diego please join us for one of our sails this Sunday November 22!!

A Day with the Captain!

sealifeconservation — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:18:17 +0000

No day has been more anticipated than November 13th on this voyage of hope and inspiration. We have been preparing for our day with Charles Moore and his Algalita Marine Research Foundation, the Long Beach non-profits , state, and federal representatives since July. Nearly 80 people attended the two hour screening of Sea Studios’ Dirty Secrets and panel discussion. Charlie shared his perspective on the growing gyre of debris in the mid pacific since his first visit there 15 years ago. I had 10 minutes to share our mission with the group and leave them with some solutions to help lessen their impact on the growing debris field in the pacific.

Celia, Capt. Moore, and Marieta

Afterwards we took 22 attendees out for a sail on Alamitos Bay and a discussion of our work and the potential in the Long Beach area for improving debris reduction efforts. We discussed our sample findings from the prior day’s survey in San Pedro and the assumptions we can make from those findings. This information can more effectively steer local efforts since understanding the types of debris that are getting by the capture devices and booms provides the opportunity to better target education. I think our guests were thoroughly entertained as Kathy Carney, Mark, and I netted and logged debris while short tacking inside the Alamitos Bay channels! We had Ron Kilgore from KNX1070 as well as Karen Hawes who is podcasting her journey from Alaska to Argentina at http://www.trashtrip.com. Charlie seemed to really enjoy the sail and the differences between his Alguita and the DMB.
Once we had docked again at the Long Beach Yacht Club (fantastic hosts) the three of us were sitting for a discussion on the day’s events and we heard someone hop aboard. Charlie stuck his head inside the cabin and asked “Will you join me for a bite up at the club?” How could we decline! We had a very entertaining meal with Charlie, his wife, and her mother discussing different facets of the trash problem and potential outcomes. His work has inspired thousands like us and the opportunity to speak directly to the man who brought the pacific gyre into the public eye was priceless! Afterwards he invited us to walk back to his house and see the Alguita, his research vessel that he has put over 50,000 sea miles on in his research on the Pacific Gyre.
The Alguita is all business. She’s a 50 aluminum sailing catamaran that is equipped for serious offshore research. Even her A-frame on the stern is impressive, rated at over 1 ton of lifting capacity! Alguita is berthed directly across the street from the Moore family home which has been in the family since the 30s. The house is a modest affair equipped with a very functional workshop and surrounded by over a dozen different types of fruit trees. I’m always inspired by those who work in conservation and who set the standard for sustainable living, eating close to the source and being aware of their footprint. These are the individuals that show the rest of us that it can be done, thanks Charlie!

Dan’s Travel-Blog

sealifeconservation — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:59:14 +0000

We cruised out of the Santa Cruz harbor at 10:00 on Monday evening, November 2nd. For my part, it was not without trepidation, as I had never sailed that far out into the Pacific for that long. As we set sail under moonlight, I bemoaned the fact that I couldn’t observe the crossing of Monterey Bay, as I’d always wanted to sail from Monterey to Santa Cruz and now I was doing the opposite.

The crew seemed great…lots of captains! It worked for me though, as I wanted to be as lowly as crew member as possible so that my responsibilities would only include observing wildlife and mapping plastics in the ocean. Approximately eight hours later, I was greeted by a slightly queasy stomach and a beautiful sunrise off the Big Sur coast. Sparkling off the water was a pod of Risso dolphins. A humpback breached the water and the magical Big Sur coast lived up to all my expectations.

The Mayor at The Helm

Behind one of the two helms on the 65’ Derek M. Baylis I felt like a small cog in an immense wheel. This sailing boat, with its carbon fiber deck and masts, is a research and education boat managed by Sealife Conservation and chartered each summer by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Over its years of operation, it has introduced tens of thousands of individuals to the beauty of marine life in Monterey Bay. Scientists have shared the secrets of the bay with young and old alike.

But this week, the Baylis was on a different mission. On board, Drew Stevens, a master at GIS (geographic information systems) was documenting the location of plastics along the coast with both a handheld computer and big monitors in the main cabin. He would document the type of plastic (i.e., cup, candy wrapper, bag, etc.) and then plot its location with GPS. When we arrived at Morro Bay, Captain David Robinson, who was our Sealife Conservation liaison, graphically displayed what plastics we found in the ocean and where we found it. My job, as former Mayor of Pacific Grove and Ocean Advisory Board Member of OCEANA, was to explain public policy and assist small seaside communities in banning polystyrene and single-use plastic bags. Pacific Grove has achieved the former and is working on the latter. The latter goal seems within reach, given that China, Mexico City, San Francisco, and other large urban environments have already accomplished it.

In addition to Captain David Robinson, we also had Captain Martijn Stiphout and Captain Mark Kocina. They were humorous, hard working and slightly wild and crazy. On board there was a time for pain and a time for pleasure, and as we rounded past Morro Bay we came upon Cojo. The large swells produced the best surf I’d ever seen, and it was certainly not something this adventurous crew wanted to ignore. With Yours Truly at anchor watch, virtually all the crewmembers threw on their wetsuits, jumped on their surfboards, and made the most of the great surf and beautiful day. Science of a different sort!

Back to work. The following day we departed and made our way to the Channel Islands. Arriving at dusk, we anchored off Santa Cruz Island and prepared our evening repast. Having the position of deckhand, I now wanted to conquer new worlds. With a severely limited pantry, I pulled out two big cans of beans and made burritos. While they tasted okay there was a problem. The problem wasn’t the lettuce or the cheese or the flour tortillas…it ended up being the beans! Need I say more??

Paddling off Santa Cruz Island

We woke up the next morning and I enjoyed a kayak ride with Shawna, one of the naturalists on board. With the advancing light, we explored the rock formations and sea caves that grew out of these very special islands off the coast. It was a pleasure watching Shawna identify microorganisms on kelp and describe different species of sea birds. We pulled anchor and made our way to Santa Barbara. Had the Coast Guard been observing us, they would have thought we’d lost our minds. Every five or ten minutes we would tack and come about in a circle while we manned long poles with nets at the end and grabbed plastic debris out of the ocean. All the while, Drew plotted and mapped what we found and where we found it as we slowly made our way to Santa Barbara. In light of the mother lode of plastics we pulled from the ocean, there could be no denying the challenges that face us as we try to preserve our oceans for future generations.

Captain David Robinson and I addressed another relatively large group of environmentalists, business people, and a gamut of other folks who understood that the oceans not only provide a home for sealife, but also draw eco-tourists who spend money and support our communities.

Dan addressing passengers in Santa Barbara

Elimination of polystyrenes is a necessity as there is clearly no need for take-home containers to have a 400-year life. We can recycle and utilize organic matter for the same uses that have been the domain of plastics. We have to eliminate the “ocean as a garbage dump” philosophy. The attached maps show we have not been good stewards of our oceans. With 90% of large predator fish eliminated since the 1950’s and over 60% of our fisheries in decline, we have big challenges ahead of us.

The wonderful crew of the Baylis, Monterey Bay Aquarium, the volunteers, NGO’s, surf riders, Save Our Shores, Sea Studios, and more, are all part of the great team working tirelessly to form an awareness of the daunting yet solvable issues facing our oceans and our environment. As I write this from home, my intention is to rejoin the Baylis and continue this expedition of exploration and enlightenment.

The Voyage Beyond Plastics

sealifeconservation — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:04:19 +0000

Sealife Conservation has been studying and educating the public about ocean plastics for nearly five years. We have learned a tremendous amount about how plastics impact our oceans, and just as importantly, the sources of the plastics. During that time we have worked with a number of city and state agencies to develop better practices to help prevent plastics from entering our oceans. Our work with the city of Monterey, in particular, has been very rewarding. This past February Monterey passed a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam) takeout containers within the city limits.

A year ago, while speaking with one of our passengers, I realized that Sealife Conservation could broaden its goal and extend the reach of its message by supporting cities to pass bans on polystyrene and on plastic bags. Sealife Conservation’s particular strengths are educating the public and studying plastic types and concentrations. These strengths are best put to use by partnering with non-profits and city agencies interested in adopting bans. This past spring we met a perfect partner to help us reach this goal – the Sea Studios Foundation.
Sea Studios has been producing films about the environment for National Geographic, PBS, and for private distribution for years. Recently, they have sought to highlight their work in communities and leverage their work to help create change, just as Sealife Conservation has. We started working with Sea Studios this past summer, hosting participants from two very successful events they produced, the Think Beyond Plastic Film Festival and the Plastic Pollution Coalition Summit. With two successes under our belt, it was time to step up our collective game!
This November the Derek M. Baylis will be traveling to eight cities in Southern California to support the mutual goal of Sealife Conservation and Sea Studios Foundation. The goal is the banning of polystyrene takeout containers and single use grocery bags. Our program starts on November 4th in Morro Bay and concludes at the end of November in San Diego. Getting the individuals who make the laws and the non-profits that will rally support for the bans is a dream that will soon be realized. Sea Studios will be hosting screenings of their films, Plastic Plague and Bag the Bag, as well as providing DVDs to those interested in supporting our education efforts at the screenings. The DVDs will contain the films, a sample polystyrene ordinance, a list of cities and counties that have adopted the ban, a copy of state ordinance AB1358, and a list of local vendors who will provide alternative bio-compostable products to cities and businesses. This DVD is an amazing tool that allows a city to essentially copy and paste a legally defensible ban. It will also contain resources that will answer all the questions one may have about taking such action. Sealife’s role will be to provide the venue, via the Derek M. Baylis, for an educational opportunity to those interested in pursuing this cause.
Please follow us via our blog as we travel down the coast! If you reside in Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Long Beach, San Pedro, Newport Beach, or San Diego, please join us aboard and help support our ocean and your local city!
Link to: http://www.thinkbeyondplastics.org/

Contributed by Dave Robinson

A Foggy Passage North

sealifeconservation — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:52:10 +0000

Someone once asked, “Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waiting with a pounding heart for something to happen”? In the late evening hours of September 27 and 28, the Derek M Baylis headed out of the Santa Cruz harbor in the thick fog toward San Francisco, after 5 efficacious months with the Monterey Bay Aquarium educating passengers about marine conservation. A small crew of 6 was onboard for the task of motoring the boat through the dark, mysterious waters of the Pacific into the San Francisco Bay, where the DMB will be utilized as a research vessel to place satellite tags on the captivating creatures we all know as the Great White Sharks. Stanford scientists have used the DMB for several years now to study Great Whites off the Farallon Islands…a wicked environment 25 miles off the coast of SF where these fascinating creatures migrate every fall. The delivery North had to take place in the middle of the night because, as Captain Dave Robinson quipped, “The weather Gods are conspiring against us”.
We planned to leave around 11pm. This was my first offshore delivery, so I felt an immense amount of excitement coupled with a bit of fear given the fact that fog blanketed the coast that evening. It’s common to have trepidation before and during one’s first night jaunt. If you don’t feel a little anxiety, you’re not taking it seriously enough. Without that leviathan overhead light (the sun), you have to rely on a whole different set of skills and senses to guide you. At night, depth perception and the ability to judge distances are greatly altered. Any concern I had was alleviated almost immediately during the safety talk pre-trip given by our highly skilled Captains. Captain Dave, Captain Mark, and Captain Martijn all have a wealth of experience at sea, and after sailing with them all this summer I knew I was in the best possible hands. These Captains insisted upon using harnesses on the deck (if one needed to venture past the helms), and they designated a watch for each of us on both the radar (your eyes-on-the-water when you can no longer see) and the helm with time to rest in between. No “Potato Navigation” takes place with these pros (Potato Navigation states that ‘When traveling in the fog, send someone forward with a bucket of potatoes every so often and have the person heave one forward as hard as possible in the direction of travel…if you hear a splash then proceed. If not-TACK’). Actually, I seriously doubt anybody uses that form of piloting on any vessel though the concept struck me as humorous.
We left harbor at the scheduled time and proceeded to enter the foggy depths of the Pacific. The Captains definitely knew that being prepared in advance for the onset of thick, ghostly fog can make your experience in near-zero visibility much less intimidating. The wind was nearly non-existant that night, and nobody could see much of anything beyond her bow. With no horizon to focus on and absolutely no point of reference in the shadowy sea, it’s quite easy to become extremely disoriented. On the other hand, once you adjust, there truly is a certain exhiliration in successfully navigating through the murky and chilling clutches of the fog. In a journey such as this, ethereal moments await you…standing alone at the helm you may begin to notice the phosphorescent waters breaking against the bow, the bioluminescent plankton illuminating the blackness in the wake of her trail, and a strange yet beautiful sense of peace that profoundly connects you to the bounty of the ocean.

After my watch at the helm, I headed into the cabin for some shut-eye (though I wasn’t entirely sure I would be able to snooze in a 65 foot vessel plowing through the open ocean). As it turns out, slumber was definitely not a problem…it was actually quite relaxing, borderline hypnotic, to lay there listening to the water crashing against the bow. Captain Mark woke me up (not gently, I might add) around dawn and all of my grogginess disappeared once I ventured outside. We had cleared the fog and the Golden Gate Bridge was in sight, along with a few gargantuan container ships that Captain Dave was eyeing cautiously. The looming bridge ahead looked blood-red in the early morning light, though I understand the color is ‘officially’ an orange vermillion called International Orange which was selected because it blends well with the natural surroundings and enhances the bridge’s visibility in the fog. After cruising under the Golden Gate and all of its fruit-colored glory, we passed the creepy island of Alcatraz and heckled each other as to who should get tossed off the boat into permanent exile in the prison’s dungeon. No takers for blatantly obvious reasons.

We docked around 7:30 and had an incredible breakfast ashore up the street from the Hyde Street Pier. The stories were flying around the table and everyone’s punchy, half asleep repartee was priceless. What an incredible trip! The DMB will be sailing down to southern California in November to educate people in 8 different cities about the importance of ocean conservation and ongoing marine debris research. Stay tuned for details on the epic adventure down south! As for this particular evening excursion, I am reminded of a quote by E. E. Cummings; “for whatever we lose (like a you or a me), it’s always ourselves we find at sea.”

Contributed by Shawna Peak

Mother’s Day in Monterey

Sealife Conservation — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:47:09 +0000

A warm and sunny Mother’s Day weekend marked the beginning of the 2009 summer Sailing Adventures Program with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. On one of the cruises, passengers were treated to the appearance of three Black-footed Albatrosses gently gliding over Monterey Bay. These birds nest mainly on the Hawaiian Islands, but migrate great distances and can be seen off the Pacific Coast. Many other birds were sighted, including Western Grebes, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, with their striking red legs and feet, Pacific Loons, Brown Pelicans, and the ever present Western Gulls!

Pigeon Guillemot

We all enjoyed the playful antics of the few California Sea Lions remaining in Monterey during the spring and early summer. Monterey Bay hosts only male sea lions in our cold waters as the vast majority of males have headed south to the Channel Islands and beyond to mate. We were thrilled to observe two mother sea otters with their pups. The pups appeared dry and comfortable lying on mom’s tummy! Passengers (and crew!) were amazed by the sight of a brand new baby harbor seal staring up at us on the starboard side of the Baylis. This is birthing time for the harbor seals.
The next weekend was unseasonably warm for Monterey. In our Kelp Pull, we found a wealth of critters – lots of kelp colored isopods, some skeleton shrimp, ribbons of melibe eggs, and bryozoans attached to the kelp blades. Our Plankton Tow was rich with plankton! We identified copepods, beautiful diatoms, dinoflagellates, and larvaceans. We were able to take a closer look at these incredible animals under the video microscope and talk about the many reasons that plankton are important to all of us, as they are members of the “bottom of the food web”. Pretty interesting!

The Benthic Sampler, which the passengers helped bring on the boat, held multiple, colorful, and truly beautiful bat stars. On a couple of the trips, we enjoyed viewing the Sunflower Sea Star, pycnopodia. The Pycnopodia utilizes over fifteen thousand tube feet to move and capture prey. Their prey is swallowed whole and digested internally!

Pycnopodia

Sailing the boat is one of the best parts of the program. The Baylis, all 65 feet of her, is an amazingly easy boat to operate and our passengers help hoist the sail and drive the boat. This is one of the smoothest boat rides one could imagine. If you are a sailor, or just a novice, you will have the chance to experience operating this magnificent and beautiful boat through the waters of Monterey Bay!
The most important lesson we learned from our time out on the Baylis is that we all can do something positive to help those living in the oceans. A major part of how we can help is by each of us doing our part in making sure that our oceans are free from contaminants. As part of our mission for the conservation of the oceans, marine debris collection/categorization and recording has been paramount. We collect and categorize all marine debris that we and our passengers see on our cruises, thus enabling us to create a “map” of where marine debris occurs. This research guides us in addressing the next necessary steps in protecting our oceans. It’s pretty cool to go out on the ocean and find critters and then be able to realize how we can help them – and all of us! It’s EASY and it’s FUN!! Come and join us!

Contributed by Mary Barrett

Charging South to Santa Cruz

sealifeconservation — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:42:12 +0000

Marin headland, the site of our prime debris study this spring

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 – Tom Wylie gave a dockside send-off to an enthusiastic group of fifteen aboard the Baylis for the trip south from Alameda to Santa Cruz. There were a number of captains, mates and skippers, some family and friends, along with the Executive Director of Farallon Islands Marine Sanctuary Association. We departed at 9:30AM with westerly winds from 5-15 knots, sunny skies, and the temperature in the 60’s. Harbor porpoises showed us the way west. The course was easily plotted using the mapping software donated by Jeppesen Marine and we were able to check the readings along the way. San Francisco seemed to rise from the ocean and the skyline was awesome. Once we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge, we raised the main and the mizzen and headed south. With the 15 knot northwesterly winds pushing behind us, the Baylis gracefully cut through the calm seas. The coastal hills were still green from the earlier rains and contrasted nicely with the blue skies and the ocean. By late afternoon the winds had come up a bit and the skipper, with cheering and coaxing from those onboard, was able to get the Baylis up to 17 knots. There was plenty of time for animated discussions about marine debris research, the North Pacific Gyre, Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s), fishing, sailing trips, global warming and a host of other topics. As we approached Santa Cruz Harbor, we were treated to a view of the spinnakers from the sailboats in the Wednesday races heading our way. Also heading north, on both our port and starboard sides, were spouting California gray whales. It was the perfect end to a perfect day! We arrived at the dock at 7:30PM.
Now the boat rests for a week, eager to begin sailing out of Monterey with the Monterey Bay Aquarium on May 9th. For information on sailing times or booking contact reservations at (866) 963–9645 or visit the webpage at: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_programs/adventures_sailing.asp

Contributed by Mary Barrett

Boatshow in Oakland

sealifeconservation — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:09:52 +0000

Kadee Barrett explaining the program

The Derek M. Baylis, along with her ocean conservation program, were featured at the Strictly Sail Pacific & Power Boat Expo held April 15-19, 2009, at Jack London Square, in Oakland, CA. With clear marine blue skies, temperatures in the 90’s, and abundant sunshine, the Derek M. Baylis was the venue for over 2,236 guests interested in learning more about the numerous research, recreational, and educational programs held onboard each year. Guests engaged in conversations with WylieCat designer, Tom Wylie, friends of SeaLife Conservation, Save Our Shores (SOS), West Marine, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
For five days a continuous parade of folks, young and old, ventured aboard this purpose built “working boat” eager to learn more about how the Baylis goes about carrying out the mission of SeaLife Conservation: “To inspire conservation of the oceans through research and education.” While some visitors were able to talk about the design and purpose of this eco-friendly vessel with Mr. Wylie, others stopped by to thank him for building a boat for them. People learned about SeaLife Conservation’s innovative marine debris research program which collects, categorizes, and plots the location of marine debris picked up by the crew on the Baylis in San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay. Save Our Shores (SOS) offered their DockWalker Kits to boaters. Kits contain an oil absorbent pad and informational material in a reusable “clean and green” bag. The pad enables boaters to safely dispose of used oil, which would otherwise end up in the marine environment. West Marine, along with SeaLife Conservation Inc. and SOS, displayed current green boating information. Guests learned about the Baylis’ summer adventures in conjunction with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. From May through September, guests can join the Baylis crew and Aquarium Naturalists on Science Under Sail excursions. Three hour cruises are offered at 10AM and 2PM and invite the public to participate in hands-on experiments to learn firsthand about the marine inhabitants and how each of us can be better stewards of our oceans. Sea Studios provided some of their innovative videos addressing threats to the oceans and how we can be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. The boat show was quite successful as thousands became more informed about the educational and research components of SeaLife Conservation.

Submitted by Mary Barrett

Success!

sealifeconservation — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:52:46 +0000

After years of efforts to encourage the City of Monterey to take a more proactive role in reducing their marine debris load the city council adopted a orinance to ban polystyrene take out containers within city limits on February 3rd. Sealife Conservation has been conferring with the city of Monterey since the fall of 2005 in an effort to persuade them to become more pro-active in their waste management by highlighting the findings from our marine debris studies on Monterey Bay. The February 3rd city council adoption seemed a watershed moment in our efforts to work towards affecting public policy, but by no means is the culmination of our efforts. Seaside, Sand City, and Marina have yet to adopt a similar ordinance. Though the impacts of these communities on the Monterey Bay marine debris issue is not as significant because they do not have significant popoulations on the waterfront as does Monterey, their role in helping us complete the protection of the perimeter of our bay is critical. The psychological implications of such efforts are equal if not greater than the immediate impact of such ordinances. The proposal of such bans bring the sustainability of commercial pursuits into the limelight, even if polystyrene impacts constitute a very small percentage of the total waste load of the community. It forces city leaders to debate relative values of commercial profitability against the value of their environment.