How many shipping containers are lost at sea each year, and what are the global environmental repercussions? Who is responsible for tracking and cleaning up the aftermath?
In response, Larson collaborated with AP’s Global Investigations team, AP’s Health & Science team, and the U.S. reporting team. Together, she and investigative reporter Helen Wieffering, both based in Washington, D.C., along with video journalist Manuel Valdes and photographer Lindsey Wasson from Seattle, set out to uncover answers and visually document the impact of marine debris.
The AP team found several concrete examples of the consequences faced by communities and wildlife across multiple continents. They highlighted the plight of coastal fishing communities in Sri Lanka, which suffered prolonged income loss following a shipping container spill involving hazardous chemicals. They also documented the debris from container spills in the Pacific Ocean washing ashore near the Hawaiian Islands and on beaches in Washington state, captured in striking visuals by Valdes and Wasson. Additionally, they reported on the alarming mass deaths of endangered marine species, including sea turtles, attributed to this environmental crisis.