Alexei Volkov
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue, with plastic found in over 60% of seabirds and all sea turtle species. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located at 32°N and 145°W, is a highly polluted area with over 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. Plastic enters the ocean through rivers, coastlines, and marine sources like fishing gear, with improper waste disposal being a significant contributor. It affects marine life through ingestion and entanglement, and microplastics enter the marine food chain. To address this crisis, it is crucial to reduce plastic production and hold producers accountable for their harmful waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Great Pacific Garbage Patch |
| Location | 32°N and 145°W |
| Plastic Pieces | 1.8 trillion pieces |
| Weight | 100,000 tonnes |
| Plastic Concentration | 100s of kg/km² in the center, decreasing to 10 kg/km² in the outermost region |
| Distribution | Distributed within the top few meters of the ocean |
| Affected Marine Life | Sea turtles, whales, seabirds, Hawaiian monk seals, Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, Steller sea lion |
| Plastic Sources | Land-based (70-80%) via rivers or coastlines, Marine sources (20-30%) like fishing nets, lines, ropes, abandoned vessels |
| Impact | Entanglement, ingestion, internal injuries, choking, starvation |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The GPGP is not a solid mass of plastic but rather a collection of microplastics, tiny bits of plastic that are often invisible to the naked eye. These microplastics are intermixed with larger items such as fishing gear and shoes. The patch covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. At the time of sampling in 2019, there were more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch, weighing an estimated 100,000 tonnes. The concentration of plastic pollution is highest in the centre of the patch, reaching hundreds of kg/km², and decreasing to 10 kg/km² in the outermost region.
The plastic in the GPGP comes from a variety of sources, including food wrappers, beverage bottles, grocery bags, straws, and take-out containers. These plastics make their way into the ocean through improper disposal, with trash ending up in the sea instead of being properly managed. Marine life can become entangled in plastic debris or mistake it for food, leading to harmful or even fatal consequences. For example, plastic has been found in more than 60% of all seabirds and in 100% of sea turtle species.
Efforts are being made to clean up the GPGP. The Ocean Cleanup, for example, has removed more than one million pounds of trash from the patch over three years and is currently using System 03 technology to continue extraction operations. It is estimated that the cleanup can be achieved within a decade and at a cost of $7.5 billion.
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Plastic entering oceans from rivers
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a critical issue, with far-reaching consequences for marine life and the environment. A significant source of this pollution is the input of plastic waste from rivers. Rivers are a major pathway for plastic to enter the oceans, with an estimated 1000 rivers accountable for nearly 80% of global annual riverine plastic emissions. Small urban rivers are among the most polluting.
A recent study found that more than a quarter of all plastic waste in the oceans could be coming from just 10 rivers, eight of them in Asia. These rivers carry plastic waste over long distances, connecting land surfaces with the oceans. The top 20 polluting rivers, mostly in Asia, account for 67% of the global total. The Yangtze River in China, for example, dumps up to 1.5 million metric tons of plastic into the Yellow Sea annually. Other highly polluting rivers include the Niger and Nile in Africa, and the Amazon and Magdalena rivers in South America.
The plastic waste in these rivers includes bottles, bags, microscopic fibers, and beads. This waste can have devastating effects on marine life, with plastic being mistaken for food by seabirds and sea turtles, and animals becoming entangled in derelict fishing nets and other plastic debris. The persistence of plastic in the marine environment, due to its buoyancy and ability to fragment into microplastics, further exacerbates the problem.
To address this issue, better waste collection and management practices are needed, especially in rapidly growing economies with poor waste management systems. Raising public awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution and reducing the volume of plastics produced and used are also crucial steps in combating this environmental crisis.
The Ocean Cleanup and other organizations are actively working to clean up the oceans and reduce plastic pollution. Their efforts include measuring plastic concentration, studying vertical distribution, and promoting local cleanups to remove plastic waste from both land and sea.
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Marine life endangered by plastic
Plastic in the ocean is a global crisis, with a direct and deadly effect on marine wildlife. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located at an average orbit of around 32°N and 145°W, is a stark example of this crisis. It contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing around 100,000 tonnes.
Marine life is endangered by plastic in various ways. One significant threat is ingestion. Seabirds, sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals often mistake plastic debris for food. Plastic fragments can sit on the water's surface, resembling prey or floating food particles, leading to suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination. Microplastics, invisible to the naked eye, are easily consumed and can absorb toxins, transferring them to the fatty tissues of organisms. This ingestion of plastic has been observed in over 60% of all seabird species, and it is predicted that this number will rise to 99% by 2050. All sea turtle species have been affected, with plastic contributing to starvation as it creates a false sense of fullness.
Another critical danger to marine life is entanglement in plastic debris. Large pieces of plastic, such as discarded fishing nets, ropes, and other gear, can trap and entangle marine mammals, fish, and sea turtles, leading to injury, increased vulnerability to predators, and even death. This issue has been observed in endangered species such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the Steller sea lion.
Furthermore, plastic pollution can smother and break coral reefs, disrupting their healthy growth. It also affects the reproduction rates of sea turtles by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the immediate threats of ingestion and entanglement. Plastic waste can release toxins into the water, affecting the health of marine life over time. Additionally, the sheer volume of plastic in the ocean poses a risk of physical contact and ingestion for many species, including large marine mammals.
The accumulation of plastic in the ocean is a pressing issue, and if left unchecked, the weight of ocean plastics is predicted to exceed the combined weight of all fish in the sea by 2050. This highlights the urgent need for action to address the harmful effects of plastic on marine ecosystems and the diverse range of species that inhabit them.
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Plastic waste in the environment
Plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, with far-reaching consequences for both natural and built environments. The issue of plastic pollution is global, affecting oceans, rivers, and lakes. The annual leakage of 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste into aquatic ecosystems is detrimental to marine life and human health.
Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous, with plastic products and waste present in homes, offices, schools, and the ocean. The production of disposable plastic has increased exponentially, with single-use plastics accounting for 40% of annual plastic production. The lifespan of these products is short, yet they persist in the environment for extended periods, taking 100 to 1,000 years or more to decompose. This longevity has severe implications for ecosystems, as plastic pollution can alter habitats and hinder their ability to adapt to climate change.
The impact of plastic waste is evident in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where more than 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic weighing an estimated 100,000 tonnes were found. The concentration levels in the centre reach hundreds of kg/km², decreasing to 10 kg/km² in the outermost region. This patch is dynamic, exhibiting seasonal shifts and variations in latitude. The plastic mass is distributed within the top few meters of the ocean, influenced by factors such as wind speed, sea state, and plastic buoyancy.
Plastic pollution poses a direct threat to marine species, leading to ingestion, suffocation, and entanglement. Over 1,500 species in marine and terrestrial environments are known to ingest plastics, with plastic found in more than 60% of seabirds and all sea turtle species. Carcinogenic chemicals from plastic products can also contaminate tap water, potentially causing various health disorders.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a multifaceted approach. While mechanical systems can remove large pieces of plastic from inland waters, preventing plastic from entering waterways is crucial. This can be achieved through improved waste management, recycling, better product design, and reduced manufacturing of single-use plastics. It is essential to reduce plastic production and hold producers accountable for the harmful waste generated, ensuring a sustainable future for our planet.
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Plastic waste from fishing gear
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a massive accumulation of plastic waste in the north Pacific. It is not a solid mass but rather a region with varying densities of plastic pollution, with the highest concentration at its centre. The GPGP is largely composed of fishing-related plastic waste, with 75-86% of all plastic waste identified as coming from offshore fishing activity.
Fishing gear, such as nets, ropes, FADs (fish aggregating devices), long lines, and plastic fishing crates, can become marine debris when lost, discarded, or abandoned. This "ghost gear" makes up an estimated 10% of ocean plastic pollution but forms the majority of large plastic littering the waters. It is particularly deadly, with more than 70% of marine animal entanglements involving abandoned plastic fishing nets. It spreads throughout the ocean on tides and currents, drifting to remote areas, entangling marine life, and littering the seafloor.
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation dedicated to ridding the world's oceans of plastic, has developed technologies to address riverine plastic and intercept plastic waste in the GPGP. They emphasise the need to tackle plastic emissions from rivers, the largest source of plastic pollution into the global ocean, as well as fishing gear inputs.
To reduce the impact of plastic fishing gear on the ocean, individuals can avoid single-use plastics, reduce or cut fish from their diets, and support organisations like The Ocean Cleanup and Sea Shepherd, which work to prevent and remove illegal fishing gear from the oceans. Governments also have a responsibility to regulate the fishing industry and take action to protect the oceans through measures such as a global ocean treaty.
The issue of plastic waste from fishing gear is a significant contributor to the plastic pollution in our oceans, specifically in areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It poses a severe threat to marine life and requires collective efforts from individuals, governments, and organisations to address and mitigate its harmful effects.
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Frequently asked questions
The sea of plastic is a name for the growing amount of plastic waste in the world's oceans. It is not a single, solid mass but rather scattered debris. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a well-known accumulation of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean.
Most plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with 70-80% transported via rivers or coastlines. Careless waste disposal, including littering and illegal dumping, contributes to the problem. Plastic is lightweight and can be blown away, ending up in rivers and the sea.
Plastic pollution has severe impacts on marine life. It has been found in over 60% of seabirds and all sea turtle species, which mistake it for food. It can cause entanglement, choking, and internal injuries, leading to death. Plastic also affects the reproduction of some beach-dwelling species.
