The Maritime Museum of British Columbia (Canada)’s
Tsunami Debris Project
About
The Maritime Museum of BC has developed an online project that aims to collect photos of flotsam that has washed ashore. We invite you to upload your photos of tsunami debris you may encounter.
Description
The devastating tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011 swept untold tons of debris into the Pacific ocean. Most has sunk, but many of the buoyant bits are still floating, in the middle of the Pacific, caught in the ocean’s currents. Those currents are slowly sweeping debris from the tsunami towards the shores of the United States and Canada. Already, we are seeing some debris with Japanese origins wash up on the shores of Vancouver Island, although the majority of the debris is not calculated to hit our coast until 2013-2014.
Planning ahead, the MMBC has developed a project that aims to collect photos of flotsam that has washed ashore. This Facebook site will allow users to upload photos of bits that are found along the beaches. Moderators at the museum will attempt to determine the origin of debris, assess any potential value and share the photos and add comments. Japanese visitors to the site could scan the site for lost or recognizable items. In some cases where an object has been collected from the beach it may be able to be returned to its owner through the Japanese Consulate. Please see http://mmbc.bc.ca/tsunami-debris/ for more information.