About our name

It’s a mouthful, I know. And, everyone asks. It is probably the question I get asked the most, and it’s often the first question: what does Seven In The Ocean mean? Where did it come from?

The backstory

Seven In The Ocean began as a blog in 2010, at the onset of my 4th year of college. At the time, I was in the middle of writing my thesis about plastics recycling in relation to the growing marine debris problem. (For the uninitiated, when I say “marine debris” I really mean anthropogenic plastic pollution) In my research, I learned that there are seven types of plastic, but only a few are recycled en masse (lookin’ at you, #1 and #2), partially because of a lack of commercial markets for the remainder (and also, plastics are really freaking hard to recycle). Due to its chemical structure, #7 plastic is typically not one of those lucky few and gets chucked. So it was that I thought to myself, “Hmm, number seven must surely be filling our landfills and blowing around into our oceans!” And there you have it. Seven. In. The Ocean. Ta-da!

The plastic that started it all…

But where did this fascination with plastic pollution in the ocean come from? Well, I’ll tell ya: in 2008, I participated in a SEA research cruise. Along with 39 other humans (most of whom were my classmates), we sailed from Honolulu, Hawaii to San Francisco (for many, including myself, this was the first time sailing…ever. Go big or go home, right?). Yes, we sailed through what’s now been called various things, but you might know it as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” Garbage patch, garbage soup, garbage broth, whatever you fancy. I was in it, and as we’re now learning, it’s not the trash islands but mostly a bunch of brilliant, blue ocean with teeny tiny bits floating around in it. Crazy town.

The plastic that kept me going…

The story doesn’t end there. In 2012, after graduating from the aforementioned college, and many rants on this blog later (and through what I can only attribute to some seriously miraculous serendipity)…I found myself on Midway Atoll, home of the Laysan Albatross. Midway is also home to a helluva plastic problem. The timing of this four-month volunteer stint was not lost on me as just four years prior, I had been extensively researching Midway and sailing just southeast of the tiny atoll on the aforementioned SEA cruise. I know, weird, right? My experience on Midway was transformational. Now, I view myself and my life as pre-Midway and post-Midway. This tiny atoll was my springboard into the world of communications and storytelling – a path I’m still meandering. Suffice it to say, 2012 was a life-changing year!

This leads me to today: writing and storytelling

Seven In The Ocean is still a blog where I share positive sustainability stories. This is important (to me) because our world is full of a lot of not-so-great stuff, and I’m so tired of the negativity. I want to be sharing stories that give me hope and that might inspire others (like you!) to pay attention and take action. So, I’ve committed to sharing my own personal stories and those of others, as a way of helping shift perspective. Seven In The Ocean has also turned into my business baby! Now, I get to help people, groups, and businesses amplify their messages and it is so uplifting!

What you’ll find here

Here, you’ll find stories. And, you’ll find an opportunity to connect. I love telling stories based on my experiences and from the people I encounter in my work world, but also in my advocacy and regular life worlds. The stories you’ll read here are ones that have resonated with me, for whatever reason. Whatever the reason, it will point back to my favourite themes of ocean health, food security, and how we can live on this planet without annihilating it.

Join me!

If, after reading a story on this website, you find that it resonated with you, tell me! I don’t want this to be a place where I talk and you listen. I want to hear what you have to say, as well. The purpose of storytelling is to inspire and share. Let me be inspired by you!