8 Mar 2024

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch to Kaikoura: Charles Moore's plastic journey

From Nine To Noon, 9:15 am on 8 March 2024

Captain Charles Moore discovered the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' in 1997 and he has spent much of his life revealing how pervasive plastic is in our oceans.

His search for plastic has since gone much further and he has found it in things like honey, salt, compost and even in placenta and breastmilk. His focus now is on measuring the amount of microplastics in drinking water in his home state of California. 

Charles talks to Kathryn about that and how a recent visit to a Kaikoura beach has given him hope that we can turn the tide on our use of plastic and its pervasiveness. 

Charles also spoke to Nine to Noon in 2009 about the discovery of the plastic garbage patch.

Captain Charles Moore, who discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Photo: Supplied