"What we have found is that the Eastern Garage Patch you hear about between California and Hawaii, well, it actually extends all the way across to Tokyo to the Western Garbage Patch making one big garbage patch," Eriksen said.

What the team found the most off was what's called micro plastic -- the kind that makes the perfect fish food.

"The fish look at this and it says 'this is food' so it might get food, but also gets a bit of plastic and that can have all kinds of toxins attached to it," said Eriksen.

His team believes it's all evidence tsunami debris is on the way and it's a reminder of the damage already done.

"I think once we realize there is an impact on ocean on marine life that we use to feed the world that will spark some change," Eriksen said.

"You know I've spent a lifetime at sea so it's heartbreaking to see what we are doing with the ocean," said Capt. Olson.

Monday night, a crew picked up the Sea Dragon's findings to bring it back to a California lab.

Researchers will do a battery of tests, for one, to see what kinds of chemicals or radiation might be in the plastic.

They also hope to find out soon who owns that registered Japanese boat.