The Pacific's Plastic Problem: An Ocean's Tragedy

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, located between Hawaii and California. It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with a large amount of this ending up in the GPGP. The patch is not a solid mass but is more akin to a plastic soup, with plastic pieces as small as 0.5mm in size. The GPGP is constantly growing and moving, with a recent study finding that the mass of plastics at the surface layer is around 180 times higher than that of marine life.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The GPGP is a collection of marine debris, or litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water. The patch is formed by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a large system of swirling ocean currents. These currents draw in waste material from across the North Pacific, including coastal waters off North America and Japan. The gyre's rotational pattern and wind-driven surface currents gradually move debris toward its centre, trapping it.

The mass of plastics at the surface layer of the GPGP is around 180 times higher than that of marine life, indicating that polluted plastics could be a primary food source for organisms in the region. The patch is estimated to contain 100 million kilograms of plastic, or 45,000–129,000 metric tons, with 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5 mm. This is equivalent to approximately six pounds of plastic for every pound of plankton.

The GPGP is composed of the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California. These patches are linked by the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone, located a few hundred kilometres north of Hawaii. The convergence zone acts as a highway that moves debris between the two patches. The GPGP's location and shape are constantly changing due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents.

Mismanaged waste

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean. It is located in the North Pacific Ocean, halfway between Hawaii and California. The GPGP is one of five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans, known as gyres. These gyres are massive circular currents that trap floating plastic for decades, if not centuries.

The amount of plastic waste in the GPGP is vast. It contains around 100 million kilograms of plastic, or 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm. This is about 160 pieces per person living on the planet. The mass of plastics at the surface layer of the GPGP is around 180 times higher than that of marine life. This indicates that plastic could be a primary food source for organisms feeding in this region.

The amount of plastic entering the ocean each year is estimated to be between 1 million and 2.41 million metric tonnes. Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution, with 1000 rivers making up 80% of plastic emitted from rivers into the oceans. However, in the case of the GPGP, research shows that about 80% of the plastic comes from fishing activities at sea, such as buoys, eel traps, crates, nets, and oyster spacers.

The impact of mismanaged waste is evident in the Asian Pacific Region (APR), where a lack of waste management and infrastructure has led to increased plastic and waste pollution. This prevents plastic and other waste from being recycled or disposed of correctly. Organisations are working to increase infrastructure and clean up existing waste pollution in the APR, but more urgent action is needed to address this issue effectively.

Plastic entering the ocean from rivers

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year from rivers. Rivers are the main source of ocean plastic pollution.

A recent study identified 1000 rivers that contribute to 80% of plastic emitted from rivers into the oceans. These 1000 rivers make up only 1% of all rivers worldwide. This indicates that a large number of smaller rivers play a significant role in plastic emissions. Small urban rivers are among the most polluting.

The amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean from rivers is influenced by various factors, including local waste management practices, proximity of populations to the river, distance to the ocean, river basin precipitation rates, and the slope of the terrain. Poor waste management practices can lead to large amounts of mismanaged plastic waste entering rivers and, subsequently, the ocean.

Eight of the ten rivers with the highest plastic waste are in Asia: the Yangtze, Indus, Yellow, Hai He, Ganges, Pearl, Amur, and Mekong. The other two are in Africa: the Nile and the Niger. These ten rivers contribute between 88% and 99% of the plastic that enters the ocean from rivers.

To address the issue of plastic entering the ocean from rivers, it is crucial to focus on improving waste management practices, especially in areas with high population density and proximity to rivers. Additionally, public awareness and initiatives to reduce plastic consumption and improve recycling practices can help mitigate the problem.

Plastic pollution's impact on wildlife

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest accumulation of plastic in the world and is located between Hawaii and California. It is one of five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans. The GPGP is estimated to be twice the size of Texas, triple the size of France or Thailand, and contains 100 million kilograms of plastic, or 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm. That's around 160 pieces per person living on the planet.

The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is devastating and far-reaching. Entanglement and ingestion of plastic have been found to affect 914 megafaunal species, with more than 100 of these being endangered. For example, the second leading cause of death for Mediterranean monk seals is fishing gear entanglement. Research has also shown that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, with some starving as their stomachs are full, yet they believe they have eaten enough. Plastic pollution on beaches also affects turtles' reproduction rates by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs.

Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death, and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and human seafood eaters. A study from 2018 found that the mass of plastics at the surface layer of the GPGP is around 180 times higher than that of marine life, indicating that plastic could be a primary food source for organisms in the region.

The durable nature of plastic means that every piece of plastic ever created still exists today. As plastic breaks down into microplastics, it becomes harder to clean up and more likely to be ingested by marine life. The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is a pressing issue, and immediate action is required to mitigate the devastating effects on marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

Global efforts to reduce plastic waste

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million metric tons of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers. Nearly one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered, and around 6 million tons of plastic waste are leaked into rivers or coastlines.

Despite the magnitude of the problem, global efforts to reduce plastic waste are underway and showing progress. Here are some key initiatives and actions:

• Global Tourism Plastics Initiative: This initiative aims to ensure that businesses, governments, and stakeholders take responsibility and work towards reducing plastic pollution. The goal is to have concrete agreements and terms in place by 2025.
• EU's Circular Economy Action Plan: The European Union created this plan to strengthen recycling regulations and promote a science-based approach to legislation. It includes the European Strategy for Plastics, encouraging a circular method of reusing products instead of relying on single-use plastics.
• Country-specific bans and restrictions: Several countries have implemented bans or restrictions on single-use plastics. For example, in 2019, Guatemala banned single-use plastic items with a two-year deadline for the public to find alternatives. Bangladesh was one of the first countries to ban plastic bags, and 77 other countries have followed suit, with 32 countries imposing taxes or other restrictions.
• Global Commitment: Led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, more than 1,000 organizations have signed this commitment to stop plastic packaging from becoming waste. Business signatories have made significant progress, reducing their use of problematic plastics, stabilizing their use of virgin plastics, and increasing their share of recycled content.
• "Go Green Dominica" initiative: Dominica's tourism sector-driven initiative aims to restore their natural environment by phasing out plastic products and introducing alternatives that can be converted into energy, water, or biomass.
• International legally binding instrument: Negotiations are ongoing for a global agreement that will establish rules, measures, and incentives to end plastic pollution. This includes addressing flexible packaging waste, promoting reuse business models, and establishing infrastructure for collection, reuse, and recycling.

While these efforts demonstrate progress, tougher measures and accelerated action are needed to address the plastic pollution crisis effectively. The world remains off track in eliminating plastic waste, and a combination of binding policies, regulatory measures, and increased business action is crucial to achieving meaningful change.

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