Anderson On Fixing The Oceans: 'Everybody Really Needs To Play Their Part'

There is a trash skimmer in Newport Harbor operated by Clean Ocean Access to help keep the water clean. And before the start of this week’s Hall of Fame Open, passionate environment supporter Kevin Anderson visited it to learn how the skimmer works and help tidy up.

“It’s definitely been something I’m really interested in. It’s a huge problem, keeping waterways across the world clean, both in the oceans and rivers. It’s everywhere,” Anderson said. “The whole issue of plastics is something that I think everybody really needs to play their part in. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it really needs to be people’s focus, because the problem is only going to get worse.

“This could really make a difference. It’s great to see that there are a lot of people who are spending a lot of time and trying to fix this. On the Tour, we’re really trying to shift our focus and try to make a difference, so I’m really excited to be a part of that.”

The Hall of Fame Open’s Official Sustainability Sponsor, 11th Hour Racing, is a Newport-based organisation that works with Clean Ocean Access. It uses sports to help promote change that will benefit the health of the oceans.

Anderson spent time talking with Clean Ocean Access Program Manager Max Kraimer about how the skimmer works, plastics' harmful impact and the environment.

“It’s really important for tournaments, like the Hall of Fame Open, to lead the way. Joining forces with these initiatives, it’s really important,” Anderson said. “Obviously from a player’s standpoint, we need to do our part. But we need to work together with the tournaments, and having things like specific environment days and just raising awareness is really valuable. I was happy to see this.”