The Ocean's Plastic Problem: An Ominous Floating Menace

The amount of plastic in the ocean is a pressing issue. While it is difficult to quantify, there are an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in the oceans, with 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment annually. This plastic waste includes everything from fishing nets to nanoplastics, with 80% originating on land. Marine life, such as whales and turtles, is severely impacted, with plastic ingestion and entanglement causing fatalities. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific, is a notable example of ocean plastic accumulation, containing 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. Addressing plastic pollution requires effective waste management and a reduction in plastic usage.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The GPGP is characterised by a gyre of marine debris particles, which are trapped within the gyre's rotational pattern. The gyre draws in waste material from the North Pacific, incorporating coastal waters off North America and Japan. The wind-driven surface currents of the gyre move debris towards its centre, where it becomes trapped. The plastic within the GPGP ranges from larger objects such as fishing gear and shoes to microplastics, which are often microscopic in size. These microplastics dominate the area by count, but larger objects that have not yet fragmented make up 92% of the patch's mass.

The GPGP is estimated to contain 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing approximately 100,000 tonnes. This mass is equivalent to over 740 Boeing 777s. The patch covers a surface area of roughly 1.6 million square kilometres, which is twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. The concentration of plastic within the GPGP is predicted to increase as more plastics are discarded and break down into microplastics.

The plastic waste within the GPGP originates from countries in Asia, North America, and South America. A 2018 study traced the majority of floating plastics in the patch to five industrialised fishing nations: the US, Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Another study in the same year found that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half the mass of the GPGP due to ocean current dynamics and increased fishing activity in the Pacific Ocean. The plastic pollution in the GPGP is a result of improper waste disposal, manufacturing products, and littering.

Marine life and ingestion of plastic

Marine life has been ingesting plastic for decades, with the first recorded instance in 1966 when plastic container lids and toys were found in dead Laysan albatross chicks. Since then, over 700 species, including seabirds, fish, turtles, and marine mammals, have been confirmed to eat plastic. Marine mammals are highly protected, which makes them difficult to study. Most research on these animals takes place after their death, making it challenging to understand what marine debris they consume during their lifetime.

The ingestion of plastic by marine life is a growing problem, with billions of people relying on seafood for sustenance and financial security. A review found that 69 species of marine mammals ingest debris, which is approximately 56% of all marine mammals. This includes toothed whales, manatees, and multiple seal species. Baleen whales, for example, filter vast amounts of water while feeding, and plastic debris can become entangled in their baleen plates.

Sea turtles often eat invertebrates like jellyfish or sponges and, therefore, show a preference for clear, sheet plastic items, such as plastic bags, balloons, food wrappers, and films. In a Mediterranean study, almost half of the examined loggerhead sea turtles had consumed some type of plastic, with one containing 67 pieces. Turtles can suffer intestinal blockage from plastic ingestion, leading to starvation and death. They can also become positively buoyant and unable to dive, making them more susceptible to predators and boats.

Another study found that over two-thirds of the fish species studied had consumed plastic, with East Asian fish showing the highest levels of plastic ingestion. This is a significant concern as seafood from this region feeds 2 billion people. Predatory fish and those higher up on the food chain are at the greatest risk of plastic ingestion.

The impact of plastic ingestion on marine life is severe and can lead to internal injuries, intestinal blockage, starvation, and death. Marine animals can also suffer from plastic entanglement, resulting in loss of limbs and mobility. The full extent of the problem is likely even more extensive, as a significant portion of the ocean, including the ocean gyres where most plastic pollution accumulates, remains to be studied.

Plastic waste from the fishing industry

The plastic waste situation in the ocean is a pressing issue, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, and around 358 trillion microplastic particles floating on the surface. Marine scientists have long warned about the impact of plastic waste on oceans, aquatic life, and human health.

The fishing industry is a significant contributor to this waste. Lost fishing gear, also known as "ghost gear," accounts for about 10%-20% of all marine plastic. This includes abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing nets, ropes, FADs (fish aggregating devices), long lines, and plastic fishing crates and baskets. Some of these nets are kilometres long and can trap large marine life, such as sperm whales, as they float through the ocean. The trapped and deceased marine life weighs down the nets, making it challenging to determine the number of ghost nets on the seabed.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an accumulation of floating ocean plastic, is largely composed of fishing-related waste. Research indicates that 75%-86% of the plastic waste in this patch comes from offshore fishing activity, with major industrialized fishing nations, including the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, as the principal producers.

To address the issue of plastic waste in the ocean, a multifaceted approach is necessary. While cleanup efforts are important, preventing plastic from entering the ocean in the first place is crucial. This includes addressing river emissions, the largest source of plastic pollution, as well as tackling plastic waste from the fishing industry. Governments can play a role in preventing fishing gear from further polluting the oceans, and organizations like Sea Shepherd work to stop illegal fishing operations and remove their equipment from the ocean.

Additionally, reducing the demand for fish and cutting down on fish consumption can help alleviate the pressure on the fishing industry and, by extension, reduce plastic waste. Individual actions, such as avoiding single-use plastics and supporting bans on plastic bags and single-use items, can also contribute to mitigating the problem.

Plastic waste on coastlines

The problem of plastic waste on coastlines is driven by poor waste management practices. In particular, countries with rapidly growing economies and increasing use of disposable plastic are major contributors. For example, China, Indonesia, and sixteen other middle-income countries were ranked as the top polluters in a 2018 report. These countries often lack adequate waste management systems to keep up with their increasing plastic consumption.

The impact of plastic waste on coastlines is far-reaching. Marine life, such as dolphins, turtles, and whales, can become entangled in larger items like plastic bags, wrapping, and fishing gear. Smaller pieces of plastic are ingested by fish, turtles, seabirds, and even smaller marine animals. This has led to the deaths of approximately 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million seabirds annually.

Additionally, plastic waste on coastlines can have economic repercussions. The fishing and tourism industries, vital for many coastal communities, suffer due to the presence of plastic pollution. Furthermore, the cleanup costs for coastal communities can be substantial.

To address the issue of plastic waste on coastlines, it is essential to focus on waste management and reduction. Implementing waste collection and recycling globally can not only reduce plastic pollution but also improve public health and reduce emissions. Supporting countries with rapidly growing economies to develop effective waste management systems is crucial. Additionally, reducing the volume of plastics produced and used, as well as holding plastic producers accountable for their harmful waste, are necessary steps to tackle this global issue.

Plastic pollution solutions

Plastic pollution in the oceans is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention and action. While the exact amount of plastic in the ocean is challenging to determine, estimates range from 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste, with trillions of microplastic particles floating on the surface and accumulating at the seabed. Here are several solutions to address this critical problem:

Reduce Plastic Consumption:

The first step towards tackling plastic pollution is to reduce plastic use. Individuals can make conscious choices to minimize their plastic consumption by opting for reusable alternatives, such as bringing their own bags for shopping, using refillable water bottles, and avoiding single-use plastic items like straws, cutlery, and disposable packaging.

Improve Waste Management:

Poor waste management is a significant contributor to plastic pollution. Implementing effective waste management systems and improving recycling infrastructure are crucial. This includes investing in recycling technologies, promoting recycling practices, and ensuring proper disposal of plastic waste to prevent it from ending up in oceans and other water bodies.

Support Policy Changes and Legislation:

Advocate for policy changes and support legislation that addresses plastic pollution. This includes urging elected officials to introduce laws that discourage plastic bag use, such as taxes or bans, and promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation. EPR ensures that plastic producers and distributors are held accountable for the proper disposal and recycling of their products and packaging.

Raise Awareness and Education:

Spreading awareness about plastic pollution and its consequences is essential. Educating communities, especially in coastal areas, about the impact of plastic waste on marine life, ecosystems, and human health can foster a sense of responsibility and encourage behavioral changes. Hosting documentary screenings, sharing information on social media, and engaging in conversations about plastic pollution are effective ways to raise awareness.

Support Cleanup Initiatives:

Organizations like The Ocean Cleanup are dedicated to removing plastic waste from oceans and rivers. They develop advanced technologies and conduct cleanup efforts worldwide, aiming to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. Supporting and donating to such initiatives can significantly contribute to the removal of plastic from the oceans.

Refuse Microplastics:

Microplastics, such as microbeads found in some cosmetic and personal care products, are a growing source of ocean plastic pollution. Individuals can avoid contributing to this problem by carefully reading product labels and choosing alternatives that do not contain microplastics. Look for ingredients like "polyethylene" and "polypropylene" on cosmetic product labels to identify and avoid microplastics.

Addressing plastic pollution in the oceans requires a multi-faceted approach involving individual behavioral changes, improved waste management, policy interventions, and support for cleanup initiatives. By implementing these solutions, we can collectively work towards reducing the devastating impact of plastic on our marine environments and ecosystems.

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