Without delay – 2nd blog entry <\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBy morning the waves have completely subsided and we can finally get to work. Lena takes the researchers and their equipment to the shore on inflatable rubber boat. Together we move the boat over the spit of land that separates Eidembukta Bay<\/strong> from the lagoon – the shore is steep and the coarse gravel under our feet does not allow us to walk properly. We launch the boat into the Seal Bay<\/strong> on the western side of the Eidembukta lagoon. The name justifies the reality, as several dozen pairs of seals observe all our actions from a greater or lesser distance, the bravest ones even swim up to a few meters away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lhei.lv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2.-laiva-krasta-migla-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe divide into two groups<\/strong> – land group and boat group. While the Taiwanese and two Lithuanian colleagues collect samples on the shore to determine the extent of persistent organic pollutants<\/strong> (POPs) found on microplastics, researchers from the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology and one Lithuanian colleague get in a boat and go to collect microplastic samples<\/strong>. The first task of the day is to find the sediment catcher that was deployed in Port Bay<\/strong> last year. Before we even enter the coordinates into the navigation, we see something white in the water in the distance. Could it be our sediment catcher buoy? Indeed it is! Exactly where we left it a year ago. We collect the sample and rearrange our belongings to continue collecting microplastic samples from the surface of the water. Everything goes very quickly and without delay. <\/p>\n\n\n