We produce over 400 million metric tons of plastic every year, an estimated 2 million of which end up in our oceans. Spending a lot of time in the water and along coastlines makes our global ocean plastic problem impossible to ignore. Along the east coast of Barbuda, which is exposed to prevailing winds and currents from across the Atlantic, plastic is more abundant than sand in many areas and we regularly find items from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. While the most effective ways to reduce ocean plastics are to use less (an estimated 50% of plastics produced each year are used only once) and to choose our seafood widely (nets, FADs, octopus pots and other fishing gear makes up an estimated 10% of ocean plastics), plastics I collect during beach cleans have become material for jewelry, sculptures, and home and boat repairs. Modern Tides aims to start conversations about the global plastic crisis and inspire the reduction of ocean plastics locally and globally. Find some creations at Rhythm of Blue gallery in Antigua or follow us @moderntides for pop-up market locations.
