Chloe Zhang
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean, spanning waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean and is mostly comprised of microplastics, which are tiny pieces of plastic that do not biodegrade but instead break down into smaller pieces. These microplastics are often microscopic and suspended at or just below the surface, making them difficult to detect by satellite imagery or even by casual boaters or divers in the area. The GPGP is largely made up of plastics due to the durability, low cost, and malleability of plastic products, as well as their inability to biodegrade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Primary cause | High amounts of plastic waste generated by humans daily |
| Estimated plastic garbage released into the ocean from global rivers annually | 8-15 million tons |
| Single-use plastics as a source of pollution | Plastic bags, straws, plastic bottles |
| Other contributors | Abandoned and lost fishing gear |
| Location | North Pacific Ocean |
| Area covered | 1.6 million square kilometers |
| Other names | Pacific Trash Vortex |
| Consists of | Western Garbage Patch and Eastern Garbage Patch |
| Major sources of plastic | China, Japan, Korean Peninsula, USA |
| Percentage of plastic debris from fishing activities | 75-86% |
| Plastic entering the ocean from rivers annually | 1.15-2.41 million tons |
| Plastic that is less dense than water | More than half |
| Plastic in the ocean from land-based sources | 80% |
| Plastic in the ocean from marine sources | 20% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste from rivers and waterways
Rivers and waterways are a major source of plastic waste in the oceans. It is estimated that 8–15 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean from global rivers each year. Small urban rivers can contribute substantially to plastic export to the oceans. Research suggests that 1000 rivers are responsible for nearly 80% of global annual riverine plastic emissions, which range between 0.8–2.7 million metric tons per year. The remaining 20% is distributed across 30,000 rivers.
The amount of plastic entering the aquatic environment annually ranges from 19 to 23 million tons. Rivers are a natural pathway, carrying nutrients and sediments from the land to the ocean. Land-based plastic waste, carried to the sea through rivers, is considered a main source of marine plastic pollution. However, it is important to note that most plastics that leak into the environment never make it into the ocean. Only a small fraction of plastics found in the terrestrial and aquatic compartments of river systems are emitted, while the majority can be retained for extended periods, even centuries.
Hydrometeorological variables such as wind, runoff, and river discharge influence the mobilization, transportation, and deposition of plastics within different river compartments like riverbanks, floodplains, lakes, and estuaries. The emptying of these plastic reservoirs primarily occurs under extreme hydrological conditions, such as storms and floods.
To address river plastic pollution, local actions to reduce plastic inputs in urban coastal areas can be effective. Monitoring plastics in rivers, even through simple methods like counting floating objects, helps to understand plastic transport in rivers and evaluate the success of pollution reduction measures. Additionally, organizations like The Ocean Cleanup are developing Interceptor solutions to combat river plastic from entering the oceans.
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Plastic from fishing activities
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a gyre of marine debris in the central North Pacific Ocean, a few hundred miles north of Hawaii. It is an area where large amounts of floating plastics have accumulated due to ocean currents. The GPGP is largely composed of fishing-related plastic waste, with 75-86% of all plastic waste in the GPGP identified as coming from offshore fishing activity.
Fishing nets and other equipment, such as ghost nets that are left behind or lost at sea, contribute to the GPGP. Plastic debris from fishing can trap and kill marine life, causing further damage to the ecosystem. It is estimated that some of the plastic pollution found in the GPGP comes from the fishing industry, accounting for around 20% of total ocean debris. Abandoned fishing gear continues to kill marine wildlife, with more than 70% of marine animal entanglements involving abandoned plastic fishing nets.
While rivers are a much larger source of plastic pollution in the world's oceans than fishing activities, the GPGP is located in an area where ocean currents from the South Pacific and the Arctic converge, creating an ocean gyre that traps debris and litter in its centre. This unique ocean mechanism contributes to the accumulation of plastic waste from fishing activities in the GPGP.
The presence of high quantities of plastic from major industrialized fishing nations such as the United States, China, Japan, and Korea in the GPGP is intriguing. These nations carry out the majority of industrialized fishing activities in the GPGP region. Models suggest that floating plastic debris emitted from fishing activities is two to ten times more likely to reach the GPGP than plastics from rivers. This is because plastic debris from fishing often spends little time near a coastline and can remain offshore, increasing the likelihood of it reaching the GPGP.
To address the plastic pollution in the GPGP, efforts must focus on both river emissions and fishing gear inputs. While river emissions are the core priority, stopping fishing gear inputs is also crucial for sustainable cleanup and interception strategies.
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Plastic from land-based sources
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is located between Hawaii and California and is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. The GPGP is formed by four currents—the California Current, the North Equatorial Current, the Kuroshio Current, and the North Pacific Current—rotating clockwise in an area of 20 million square kilometers.
The primary cause of the GPGP is the massive amount of plastic waste generated by humans daily. It is estimated that 8-15 million tons of plastic garbage enter the ocean from global rivers each year. Plastic waste can come from rivers or be swept towards coastlines, with most plastic either sinking to the seabed or staying close to the shoreline. Single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, and bottles, are significant contributors to the GPGP. These items are often not recycled and end up as ocean plastic, breaking down into microplastics over time and causing problems for marine ecosystems.
The accumulation of plastics in the GPGP has detrimental effects on the Pacific Ocean. Sunlight becomes blocked, unable to reach photosynthetic plankton and algae, restricting their ability to thrive in their habitats. As a result, the food web is disrupted, affecting other organisms that rely on algae and plankton as a food source. Additionally, plastic debris from fishing activities, such as abandoned nets, can trap and kill marine life, causing further damage to the ecosystem.
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Plastic from industrialised fishing nations
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and California. It is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, with an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres. The GPGP is largely comprised of plastic, with an estimated 87,000 tons of plastic currently in the patch.
It is estimated that 8-15 million tons of plastic garbage are released into the ocean from global rivers each year, with plastic leakage into the oceans from remote Asia-Pacific islands close to 100%. However, plastic from rivers is less likely to reach the GPGP than plastic from fishing activities, as plastic from rivers mostly stays close to the shoreline or sinks to the seabed. In contrast, floating plastic debris emitted from fishing activities is more buoyant and likely to remain at sea, eventually reaching the GPGP.
The presence of plastic from industrialised fishing nations in the GPGP has significant implications for cleanup strategies and the fishing industry. Efforts to address this issue include the development of mechanical devices by the Ocean Cleanup Foundation to sweep and recycle plastic, as well as legislation such as the Save Our Seas Act in the US, which aims to incentivise fishermen to clean and dispose of marine debris.
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Plastic from single-use packaging and containers
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a gyre of marine debris, located in the central North Pacific Ocean, a few hundred miles north of Hawaii. The GPGP is primarily caused by the vast amount of plastic waste generated by humans daily, with single-use plastics being a significant source of pollution in the ocean.
Single-use plastics are goods made from fossil fuel-based chemicals and designed for disposal after one use or a short period. They are commonly used for packaging and serviceware, such as bags, bottles, wrappers, and straws. Since the 1950s, the world has produced over nine billion metric tons of plastic, with more than half entering the market after 2000. Single-use plastic products are more likely to end up in the sea than reusable options, and they contribute significantly to the GPGP.
To address the issue of single-use plastic packaging and containers, individuals can make conscious choices like avoiding bottled water, using reusable bags, and storing leftovers in reusable containers instead of plastic wrap. Buying in bulk and avoiding individually packaged goods also reduces single-use plastic consumption. Supporting local plastic bans, advocating for non-plastic alternatives, and encouraging companies to adopt more sustainable packaging are other effective ways to tackle this issue.
Additionally, the EU has implemented rules and directives to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and beverage cups, with a focus on limiting their use, improving design and labelling, and introducing waste management obligations for producers. These measures aim to decrease the volume and impact of single-use plastic products on the environment, promoting sustainable alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
The GPGP is mostly made of plastic because plastic is durable, cheap, and can be easily moulded, making it a common material for consumer and industrial products. Plastic does not biodegrade, instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces, called microplastics, which are difficult to remove.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, spanning an estimated 1.6 million square kilometres.
The GPGP is made of microplastics, which account for 94% of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch. It also contains larger items such as fishing gear, shoes, and plastic bottles.
