Our History
1994
Algalita is Founded
Long Beach local, Captain Charles Moore founds Algalita with the original mission to study and restore kelp forests off the coast of Southern California.
1997
Discovery of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Captain Charles and his ORV Alguita enter the Trans-Pac Yacht Race from LA to Honolulu. Returning home they take an alternative route, through the North Pacific Gyre. They came across a “painted ocean, littered with odd bits of plastic floating on the surface.” This accumulated “plastic soup” would later be known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
1999
20 Years of Research
For the next 20 years, Charlie returned repeatedly to the same stretch of ocean, collecting samples, documenting the growing concern, and bringing awareness to the plastic pollution issue.
“We must work towards a world where plastic pollution is unthinkable.”
2020
The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution
Recognizing the need for a dedicated research team, Algalita launches the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution. Focusing on investigating plastic pollution in tap water, air, products
The institute was co-founded by Captain Charles Moore, Shelly Moore, and Katie Allen.
2024
Becoming An Accredited Lab
The Moore Institute is among the first laboratories in the world accredited to analyze microplastics in drinking water in the state of California.
