Greta Jimenez
The ocean is filled with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year. This plastic waste comes from a variety of sources, including single-use plastics, microplastics, and ghost gear (abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear). The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the world's largest trash site, is made up of all kinds of marine debris and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, covering an area twice the size of Texas. Marine debris is preventable, and individuals, communities, and governments can all play a role in reducing and removing it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pieces of plastic in the ocean | 5.25 trillion pieces |
| Number of pieces of plastic in the ocean (including microscopic pieces) | 51 trillion pieces |
| Number of pieces of plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch | 1.8 trillion pieces |
| Weight of plastic in the ocean | 75-199 million tons |
| Weight of plastic floating on the ocean surface | 269,000 tons |
| Number of marine animals that die from plastic waste | 100 million |
| Number of marine animals that die from entanglement in plastic | 100,000 |
| Number of marine mammal species that get entangled in litter | 1 in 3 |
| Number of plastic microfibers per square kilometer in the deep sea | 4 billion |
| Number of pieces of plastic ingested by North Pacific fish yearly | 12,000-14,000 tons |
| Number of species of marine animals impacted by ocean pollution | 1,000 |
| Number of different marine species with plastics in their bodies | 1,300 |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The patch is primarily composed of microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic that are often microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye. These microplastics create a vast cloud, with newer items of debris floating around like chunks in a soup. The patch covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France. It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the open ocean, with an estimated 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year from rivers.
The impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on marine life is significant. It is estimated that 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste, with 100,000 marine animals dying from entanglement in plastic. Additionally, plastic pollution has been found in the guts of sea turtles, whales, and seabirds, indicating ingestion of plastic by these species. The patch also affects marine life through the ingestion of microplastics, with unknown consequences for fish and other sea animals.
Efforts are being made to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By the end of 2024, The Ocean Cleanup project had removed more than one million pounds of trash from the patch, equivalent to 0.5% of the total accumulated trash. However, the patch is believed to be rapidly accumulating, increasing "10-fold each decade" since 1945, highlighting the ongoing challenge of addressing marine plastic pollution.
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Mismanaged waste
Marine debris, or litter, comes from people, with the majority of it originating on land and entering the ocean and Great Lakes through littering, poor waste management practices, stormwater discharge, and extreme natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes. Mismanaged waste is just one of the sources of ocean plastic pollution.
Overall, around one-fifth of plastics are mismanaged, meaning they are not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills. This mismanagement puts plastic at risk of leaking into rivers, lakes, and oceans. People in high-income countries consume the most plastic, but it is mostly kept out of the natural environment. Only 9% of plastic is recycled, and about 22% of plastic waste worldwide is either not collected, improperly disposed of, or ends up as litter.
The probability that mismanaged plastic waste enters the ocean varies across the world, depending on factors such as the location and length of river systems, proximity to coastlines, terrain, and precipitation patterns. A recent study identified 1000 rivers that make up 80% of plastic emitted from rivers into the oceans. These rivers make up 1% of all rivers worldwide.
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Abandoned fishing gear
The ocean is facing a plastic pollution crisis. There are an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, with 269,000 tons floating on the surface and four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer in the deep sea. Marine animals are suffering as a result, with 100 million dying from plastic waste each year and 100,000 becoming entangled in plastic.
Ghost gear can be dangerous to fishers as well, getting tangled in propellers and anchors. It is expensive to replace, and it can reduce catch rates. The problem is being addressed through various initiatives, such as the Sustainable Fisheries Solutions and Retrieval Support Contribution Program, which aims to prevent, reduce, and assess the impacts of ghost gear. There are also efforts to establish gear collection and recycling programs, develop tools for better tracking and recovery of gear, and improve gear management and fishing practices.
While the exact amount of ghost gear in the ocean is unknown, it is estimated to make up 46-70% of all floating macroplastics in the ocean gyres by weight. This figure does not include the impact of extreme weather events and natural disasters, which can wash additional plastic into the ocean. Ghost gear can break down into microplastics, which are difficult to see and can be ingested by marine life, causing harm to their health and reproduction.
The problem of abandoned fishing gear in the ocean is a serious one, contributing to the widespread harm caused by plastic pollution in the ocean. Efforts are being made to address this issue, but more action is needed to protect marine life and ecosystems.
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Microplastics
Marine plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, with microplastics (ranging from 1 micrometre to 5 millimetres in size) dominating the measured plastic count in the ocean. Microplastics are small plastic pieces that often originate from the breakdown of larger plastic debris. They can also be intentionally designed as microbeads, which are used in health and beauty products. These microbeads pass through water filtration systems and enter oceans and lakes, posing a threat to aquatic life.
The long-term impacts of microplastics on marine ecosystems are a significant concern. While microplastics are not considered lethal in the short term, their accumulation in marine organisms can have profound implications for marine biodiversity and the stability of Earth's climate. Microplastics may disrupt key processes such as ocean carbon storage and nitrogen cycling, exacerbating issues like toxic algal blooms and deoxygenation driven by climate change. The smallest microplastic particles are of particular concern as they can be ingested by a wider range of marine species, from large whales to tiny plankton.
Addressing the microplastics problem requires better waste management and recycling practices. Improving recycling rates for plastic products and ensuring proper disposal of plastic waste can help reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean. Additionally, banning the use of microbeads in health and beauty products, as the US did in 2015, can help mitigate the direct introduction of microplastics into waterways.
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Marine animal deaths
Marine animals are facing a grave threat from the ever-growing amount of litter in the ocean. It is estimated that over one million marine animals are killed by litter each year, with some estimates placing the figure at 100 million. Marine debris affects at least 800 species worldwide, and plastic makes up about 80% of this litter.
One of the most common ways marine animals are harmed by litter is through ingestion. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals often mistake microplastics for food. These tiny plastic particles, which are often invisible to the naked eye, can be found floating in the ocean or settling on the ocean floor. When ingested, these microplastics cannot be digested and can lead to starvation or death. Young sea turtles are especially vulnerable, as they tend to drift with ocean currents, where they come into contact with floating plastic debris. A study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death.
Another way marine animals are harmed by litter is through entanglement. Marine animals can become entangled in abandoned fishing nets, plastic bags, and other discarded materials. This can lead to suffocation, drowning, or the inability to escape from predators. It is estimated that 100,000 marine animals die from entanglement in plastic each year.
The impact of litter on marine animals is not limited to physical harm. The chemicals in plastics can be toxic to marine life, leading to health issues and even death. Additionally, the ingestion of microplastics by marine animals can have indirect effects on human health, as these toxins can enter the food chain when contaminated seafood is consumed by humans.
The problem of marine animal deaths due to litter is widespread and urgent. While some progress has been made in reducing certain types of plastic pollution, such as plastic pellets, the overall amount of plastic in the ocean continues to grow. With an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, the threat to marine life is significant and ongoing.
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Frequently asked questions
There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every year.
Four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometre litter the deep sea.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the world's largest trash site. It is twice the size of Texas and contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.
Marine debris is any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and intentionally or unintentionally disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment. It can be plastic products that are thrown out but don't make it to a recycling centre or landfill. It can also be caused by littering, with drainage and rivers carrying litter to the sea.
The NOAA Marine Debris Program funds projects that remove marine debris from shorelines and prevent it from entering the ocean. California has introduced a law that makes the producers and vendors of plastic packaging responsible for waste. Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, is banning a range of single-use plastics.
