Our Mission
Working with local and global communities to reduce the impact of plastic waste on our oceans. We create events and provide education to empower local communities along the way. Our mission is to wake people up to the issue by launching community events, Fishing for Plastic competitions, and inspiring people to become involved in the process of learning more about plastic pollution and how they can do their part to bring change into their community.
At Fishing for Plastic we galvanize people into seeing how they can help, taking action locally and creating the change in their community. We are a small non-profit out to make a big difference for those who are ready to create new solutions in their world.
Our Impact
Coastal Cleanup Crew in Perth, Western Australia
HELPING LOCAL ACTION RESONATE GLOBALLY
When we work with local organizations in regions that are heavily impacted by plastic waste, changes happen in real time. We get to really connect with the communities and understand how we can help them in their journey towards a world with less plastic waste.
Vancouver Precious Plastic Educational workshop
DESIGNING COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Vancouver serves as the base of operations and fundraising for Fishing for Plastic and its new Precious Plastic Workshop location. This workshop has been designed to impart a bright, fun and creative learning space for people of all ages to rethink what they know about plastic waste. We teach that plastic is a reusable resource and after seeing the process from start to finish it becomes obvious that there are more sustainable ways to collect and reuse this resource.
Royal Rangers Plastic Derby team working to clean Abaco beaches
PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
We work to forge relationships with non-profit and education groups such as Bahamas Plastic Movement, Friends of the Environment, Sea Monkey Project and Ocean Legacy, then work together at the community level. A recent collaboration with Bahamas Plastic Movement in Hopetown, Elbow Cay Bahamas led to the Plastic Derby in June 2019.
Meet Our Partners
Our Team
Angela Burns
Director of PRograms
A physician living in Vancouver, BC, Angela has loved the ocean all her life. After her first ocean passage on a small boat at the age of 21 she has enjoyed sailing the oceans, including a circumnavigation when her children were young. During this time she was privileged to meet wonderful people in the small coastal communities of many developing countries though she noticed a heartbreaking amount of garbage and plastic among the pristine beauty of these areas. After nearly a decade of wanting to take action, she is determined to make a difference.
Bill Atherholt
Director of OPERATIONS
As an IT security engineer and professional captain Bill is an enthusiastic waterman and connoisseur of beaches all over the world. Whether paddling a SUP, surfing, diving or sailing, the water is his calling. The concept of Fishing for Plastic came while beachcombing on Big Sand Cay in the Turks and Caicos only to find the deserted island filled with plastic pollution on the windward shore. Bill believes that there is no action more effective than local grassroots community action and the perfect time to take action is Now.
Katy Atherholt
Director of DevelopMEnt
Katy is a visual designer, illustrator and partner at Moss Design based in San Francisco, CA. Her love for surfing and sailing make the ocean a very special place.
Fee McGeer
Community Coordinator
Fee is a nurse based in Vancouver who is passionate about sustainability and outdoor adventure. She helps out with community events, social media and educational initiatives.
Catherine Ostler
Education coordinator
Catherine is a retired English teacher and an avid outdoor adventurer and world traveller. Whether in a sea kayak, on a bicycle, or on foot, she picks up plastic garbage when she finds it in wild and beautiful places, but believes it is in community that we can defeat the scourge of plastic on sea and on land.
SELECTED PRESS
Sea Plastic - Pick it Up / Cruising World / Read Full Article
North Shore News / Read Full Article
North Shore News / Read Full Article
Charlotte Sun / Read Full Article