Sarah Ferguson Sets New World Record in "Swim Against Plastic," Becomes 1st Person to Swim Around Easter Island

MALIBU, Calif., March 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Plastic Oceans International and Breathe Conservation, two global nonprofit organizations dedicated to solving the plastic pollution problem, announced that South African endurance swimmer, Sarah Ferguson, set a new world record—becoming the first person to swim around the entire perimeter of Easter Island—as part of Swim Against Plastic, a global campaign to help end plastic pollution organized by the organizations.

Sarah achieved the world-record swim around Easter Island on Saturday, March 16 at 3:15 a.m. EASST (UTC/GMT -5). She swam 39.46 miles (63.5 kilometers) continuously over a duration of 19 hours and 8 minutes, finishing ahead of schedule in a swim expected to take approximately 24 hours to complete. Sarah began swimming Friday, March 15 at 8:07 a.m. EASST, officially launching the Swim Against Plastic campaign.

"It's an incredibly special moment for my team and me right now. To have pioneered a swim like this is still something I am wrapping my head around! But to have succeeded in doing something no one else has done is both humbling and amazingly exciting," said South African endurance swimmer Sarah Ferguson, founder of Breathe Conservation and Ambassador for Plastic Oceans International. "I hope that just as I swam around Easter Island, one stroke at a time, people choose to make one small decision at a time around single-use plastic to help preserve this beautiful blue ocean of ours."

The goal of Swim Against Plastic is to encourage people to rethink their habits toward single-use, or throwaway plastic, and empower them to change and become part of the solution. Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island explores how local plastic pollution is impacted on a micro level—by exponentially growing tourism, increased population, commercial fishing, and waste management—while providing a model to translate to a macro level for global application. Events include the record-breaking swim, education forums and beach cleanups, all coordinated with members of the Easter Island community.

Sarah swam through dangerous currents in very high salt content, facing many serious risks to accomplish this human first. Her commitment to raise awareness about plastic pollution is why the Breathe Conservation founder, Plastic Oceans International Ambassador, and retired South African national swimmer embarked on Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island. She trained extensively to prepare and arrived on Easter Island from South Africa March 11. Watch why Sarah swims: Video: The Determination of Sarah Ferguson.

Easter Island was chosen for Swim Against Plastic, because the surrounding waters contain one of the highest concentrations of microplastics in the Pacific Ocean, despite its distant location. The Chilean territory is considered the most remote inhabited island on the planet, more than 2,000 miles from the Chilean coast, between Chile and New Zealand, with the nearest island over 1,200 miles away.

Most microplastics on Easter Island originate from sources thousands of miles away, and along with larger pieces of plastic, travel to the island as a result of the South Pacific Gyre. An additional 20 tons of trash is produced daily on the island, which has prevalent waste management issues, especially related to the exponentially growing tourism industry and increasing population.

Chile implemented new rules to limit access and tourism on Easter Island to protect the culture and environment. Rapa Nui, the island's indigenous name, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is well known for the unique cultural phenomenon of shrines and enormous stone figures, called moai, built between the 10^th and 16^th centuries by the society of Polynesian origin, which settled on the island circa 300 A.D.

"We couldn't be prouder of Plastic Oceans Ambassador Sarah Ferguson for her leadership and commitment to bring attention to the planet's plastic pollution problem with her stunning first-time, world-record swim around Easter Island's entire perimeter," said Julie Andersen, Global Executive Director, Plastic Oceans International. "Plastic pollution threatens the ocean, our food sources and the environment. Easter Island is an example of how even the world's most remote, iconic and protected locations are not immune to the problem. We encourage people to rethink their habits toward single-use plastic and change their actions to become part of the solution."

A March 16 beach cleanup, hosted by Te Mau o te Vaikava and Plastic Oceans, collected 600 pounds of plastic pollution from the Viringa o Tuki area, a well-known local surf spot. Microplastics samples were also gathered from the beach cleanup for future analysis by Arizona State University.

People worldwide are encouraged to join Swim Against Plastic to end plastic pollution. To get informed, inspired, rethink plastic, and make changes to be part of the solution, visit SwimAgainstPlastic.com, and follow #SwimAgainstPlastic on social media.

Swim Against Plastic is presented by Footprint, and in partnership with Crowd, Hotel Hotu Matua, and Toki Rapa Nui.

Press Kit: Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island

Photos:

1. SWIM AGAINST PLASTIC
    Credit: Plastic Oceans International (unless specified differently in filename)
2. EASTER ISLAND
    Credit: Mara Films / Kartemquin Films (unless specified differently in filename)

Video:

1. Sarah Ferguson completes Swim Against Plastic 3.16.19
2. Sarah Ferguson begins Swim Against Plastic 3.15.19
3. Sarah Ferguson prepares for Swim Against Plastic 3.15.19
4. YouTube: The Determination of Sarah Ferguson 
5. YouTube: Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island 
6. YouTube: Video InfoGraphic: 9 Ways You Can Help Reduce Plastic Pollution

InfoGraphic: 9 Things You Can Do to Reduce Plastic Pollution 

About Plastic Oceans International
Plastic Oceans International is a US-based nonprofit organization with a goal to change the world's attitude toward plastic within a generation, affecting consumer behavior. Serving the ocean and the public, its mission is to inform, inspire and incite action to end plastic pollution. Plastic Oceans engages people of all ages and social situations to build awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution—including the perception that single-use plastic is disposable—and to foster solutions that prevent plastic from entering the environment. Plastic Oceans uses inspirational and solutions-focused film and media, paired with supportive activism, to promote a global movement to rethink plastic. Learn more at plasticoceans.org. Follow on social media at Facebook: @PlasticOceans, Twitter: @PlasticOceansUS, Instagram: @plasticoceans, and YouTube: Plastic Oceans International.

About Breathe Conservation
Breathe Conservation is a nonprofit organization that believes in a plastic-free ocean. We aspire to be pioneers by aiming high and eliminating—rather than reducing—plastic pollution in the ocean and the world around us. Founded by Sarah Ferguson, a former national swimmer for South Africa who is passionate about safeguarding the ocean for future generations, Breathe organizes swims and educates people about our oceans and plastic pollution. We're focused on tackling culprits—like straws, coffee cups, plastic bags and sucker sticks—and promoting responsiveness in addressing throwaway, or single-use plastic. The idea is to respond in the moment, where you can, to stop plastic pollution—no matter how small the effort may seem. Breathe inspires and encourages all people to walk as if they are kissing the earth with their feet. These wise words from Thich Nhat Hanh are a powerful mantra that unpacks our message to live deeply and tread lightly. Learn more at breatheconservation.org.

SOURCE Plastic Oceans International; Breathe Conservation

Related Links

http://breatheconservation.org

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