A Voyage with Purpose
Currently sailing from California to New Zealand, Kiwi actor and skipper Phil Somerville is on a mission to raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution, joined by actor Martin Henderson, stuntwoman Zoë Bell and comedian Rhys Darby.
Why Martin Henderson is supporting the Eat Less Plastic ocean voyage
Acitizen of the planet, Phil Somerville’s true passion is the ocean. He is currently living his truth by sailing his 54ft sailboat ‘Today’ across the Pacific Ocean raising awareness of plastic pollution and collecting value data for an Eat Less Plastic initiative.
Somerville’s Hollywood credits may include Zero Dark Thirty, Iron Man, Captain Phillips, and Mission Impossible, but he is also a master diver, holds a United States Coast Guard captain’s ticket and is unwavering in his drive to promote ocean conservation.
“Once I found out how critical of a state the ocean is in, I had no choice, as my heart told me to step up and do something about it. It’s as simple as that.
I want my kids to experience what I have in the water and with their kids also. At this rate they won’t,” Somerville says.
Over the course of the four-month voyage Captain Somerville and his crew are gathering data on microplastics from Pacific Island nations using the 5 Gyres Trawlshare Program. The goal is to gather important data, raise awareness about plastic pollution and influence global policy.
“Our main objective is to bring as much awareness to this critical issue as possible. By doing this, we will connect the dots with all the NGOs supporting this vital issue,” says Somerville. “Throughout the South
Pacific island chain we have been bringing awareness through schools’ non-profit programmes and
NGOs and also deploying our donated Manta Trawl by
Algalita and 5 Gyres along the way to gather the vital data to put towards the global estimate of microplastic that is polluting our beautiful waters. Education brings awareness, which leads to action.”
‘Today’ is scheduled to arrive in
New Zealand in early October with fellow actor and mate Martin Henderson and Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby planning to join the last leg in Fiji.
“The ocean is a life force,” says Somerville. “Its electric energy is healing in so many ways. It brings life to many beautiful things and helps support humans with food, in fact a third of the world depends on its resources. It also supplies our ecosystem with 45 per cent of the oxygen we breathe. We need it and it needs us to wake up. Every living human has an obligation to do their bit... – the more people sharing the message, the better.”