Project Kaisei was founded in late 2008, and is operating under Ocean Voyages Institute, a California registered 501C3 non-profit organization. Project Kaisei features a team of innovators: ocean lovers, sailors, scientists, surfers and environmentalists who have come together with a common purpose – to help reduce the amount of plastic in our ocean. The first research voyages took place in August 2009, with a second taking place in the summer of 2010. The team is working with scientists, innovators, fishermen, recycling experts, and others to form a collaboration of specialties that can help address a larger cleanup effort in the North Pacific Gyre in the future. Some of the technology required has never been utilized under ocean conditions.

Funded by donations, in kind services, we are seeking support from visionary individuals, family foundations and corporations. Our next expedition will combine ground breaking recycling research, plastic capture experiments, and further scientific research which will allow us to estimate the metrics needed for a larger cleanup in the near future. Such a cleanup would allow commercial fishers to reclaim their livelihood at sea while improving the ocean in which they make their living.