Captain Charles Moore

Captain Charles Moore, a third-generation Long Beach resident, founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation and Long Beach Organic in 1994 to combat ocean and urban pollution. In 1997, during a return voyage from Hawaii, he discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, leading to groundbreaking studies showing plastic outweighed zooplankton in the ocean. Since then, he has dedicated his life to researching and raising awareness about plastic pollution. His work has been featured in National Geographic, Good Morning America, Trashed, and more. He received an honorary doctorate from Thompson Rivers University and the 2014 Peter Benchley “Hero of the Seas” award. His book Plastic Ocean documents his discoveries and global impact. Captain Moore continues to lead ocean expeditions, igniting worldwide attention and action on the plastic pollution crisis.