Meghan Hodges
Marine debris, including plastic pollution, is a pressing issue that poses a significant threat to the health and safety of marine ecosystems and human well-being. While the exact amount of plastic waste in the oceans remains uncertain, it is estimated that around 0.5% of the world's plastic waste, or approximately 1.7 million tons, ends up in the oceans annually. The presence of plastic pollution in the oceans incurs substantial economic costs, with an estimated impact of up to $2.5 trillion per year due to losses in fisheries, aquaculture, recreational activities, and global well-being. These costs also encompass cleanup efforts, wasted resources, and lost revenues for local and national economies. The sources of plastic pollution are diverse, ranging from single-use plastics to abandoned fishing gear and microplastics, which collectively contribute to the widespread harm inflicted on ocean life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic waste in oceans | 171 trillion pieces of plastic floating at the ocean's surface |
| Percentage of world's plastic waste in oceans | 0.5% |
| Tonnes of plastic waste in oceans | Between 1 million and 1.7 million tonnes per year |
| Cost of plastic pollution | $2.5 trillion a year |
| Plastic waste cost per ton | $33,000 in reduced environmental value |
| Marine debris impact | Marine debris costs local and national economies millions in cleanup costs, wasted resources, and lost revenues |
| Marine species impacted by marine debris | 1,300 |
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What You'll Learn
- The economic impact of ocean pollution: billions lost in fishing, tourism, shipping
- Plastic waste costs: up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value
- Marine debris: a global problem that impacts human health and safety
- Oil spills: a form of point source pollution that has large impacts
- Microplastics: plastic fibres, tire particles and paint particles are common
The economic impact of ocean pollution: billions lost in fishing, tourism, shipping
Marine debris, such as plastic pollution, oil spills, and fertilizer runoff, has severe economic impacts on fishing, tourism, and shipping industries globally. The United Nations estimated in 2014 that the global economic impact of plastic pollution on these sectors reached a minimum of $13 billion annually. This figure has likely increased due to the growing intensity and frequency of climate change-induced extreme weather events, which contribute significantly to marine pollution.
Fishing, aquaculture, and the global shellfish industry are severely affected by ocean pollution. Plastic waste in the oceans costs society billions of dollars annually in damaged and lost resources. For example, plastic waste is estimated to cost up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value. The presence of plastics in marine life also reduces the benefit humans derive from the oceans, resulting in a cost of up to $2.5 trillion annually, according to a study in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Ocean pollution creates hypoxic zones, or dead zones, in the water, leading to mass die-offs of fish and other marine life. For instance, in 2017, oceanographers detected a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico nearly the size of New Jersey, underscoring the severe consequences of pollution on marine ecosystems and the fishing industry. Additionally, microplastics shed from synthetic textiles during laundry contribute to ocean pollution, with a single load of laundry generating up to 18 million plastic microfibers.
Tourism is also negatively impacted by ocean pollution, as coastal communities incur significant costs to combat litter and maintain clean shorelines. A 2012 study found that 90 west coast communities in the United States spent over $520 million annually to address this issue. Furthermore, noise pollution from shipping and military activity causes cellular damage to invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones, which are a vital food source for tuna, sharks, and sea turtles.
The shipping industry, often assumed to be a primary culprit of marine pollution, also suffers economic consequences due to ocean pollution. Marine debris, such as abandoned vessels and derelict fishing gear, interferes with navigation safety and poses threats to human health and safety. The presence of marine debris and plastic pollution in the oceans results in substantial cleanup costs, wasted resources, and lost revenues for local and national economies.
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Plastic waste costs: up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value
Marine plastic pollution costs the world up to $2.5 trillion a year, according to researchers. An investigation led by Dr Nicola Beaumont, an environmental economist at Plymouth Marine Laboratory, found that plastic waste costs up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value. The study, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, is the first of its kind to explore the social and economic impact of plastics in the sea.
The study found that plastic pollution in the world's oceans costs society billions of dollars annually in damaged and lost resources. Industries such as fisheries, aquaculture, and recreational activities are negatively affected by plastic pollution, resulting in an estimated 1-5% decline in the benefits humans derive from oceans. The resulting cost in such benefits, known as marine ecosystem value, is estimated to be up to $2.5 trillion a year.
The negative impacts of plastic waste on the environment are far-reaching. Plastic waste can be found all over the world, from populated coastlines to remote areas, and its impact on marine life is detrimental. Nearly 1,300 different marine species have been documented with plastics in their bodies, and plastic pollution has been found to reduce natural capital in affected ecosystems. In addition, plastic pollution contributes to the creation of hypoxic zones in the ocean, where oxygen concentrations are so low that animal life suffocates and dies.
The costs associated with plastic waste are not limited to the environment. Plastic waste also has direct and indirect impacts on society and human health. For example, plastic pollution can lead to the spread of invasive species and disease, as it creates new habitats for bacteria and algae. Additionally, the process of recycling plastic waste can be costly, with the potential for environmental safety violations. While recycling has the potential to reduce industrial and environmental costs, it currently falls short of its promise due to the challenges of converting recycled plastic back into its original form.
Overall, the issue of plastic waste in the ocean is a significant problem that has far-reaching consequences. The costs associated with plastic waste, both environmentally and economically, are high, and the negative impacts on marine life and human society are widespread. Addressing plastic pollution and finding solutions to reduce its presence in the ocean are crucial steps to protect the environment and mitigate the economic losses caused by this global issue.
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Marine debris: a global problem that impacts human health and safety
Marine debris is any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. Marine debris is a global problem that impacts human health and safety, endangers wildlife and aquatic habitats, and costs local and national economies millions in cleanup costs, wasted resources, and lost revenues.
The ocean and waterways are polluted with a wide variety of marine debris, ranging from tiny microplastics, smaller than 5 mm, to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels. Marine debris comes from a variety of sources, with a 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. Some debris, such as derelict fishing gear, can also come from ocean-based sources. This lost or abandoned gear, also known as "ghost gear", continues to capture and kill wildlife, damage sensitive habitats, and compete with and harm active fishing operations.
The impact of marine debris on human health and safety is significant. Marine debris can interfere with navigation safety and pose a threat to human health. Additionally, marine debris can result in the accumulation of pollutants in the ocean, such as oil spills or agricultural nutrients like nitrogen, which can create hypoxic zones where animal life suffocates and dies. These hypoxic zones have been increasing, with 146 zones identified in 2004 and over 400 in 2008. The presence of marine debris also indicates a broader issue of pollution, which can have indirect effects on human health and safety. For example, noise pollution generated by shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to a class of invertebrates that are a vital food source for tuna, sharks, sea turtles, and other creatures.
The economic impact of marine debris and ocean pollution is also substantial. A study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin reported that plastic pollution in the world's oceans costs society up to $2.5 trillion a year in damaged and lost resources. Fisheries, aquaculture, recreational activities, and global well-being are negatively affected by plastic pollution, with an estimated 1-5% decline in the benefits humans derive from oceans. The global economic impact of plastic pollution on fishing, tourism, and shipping was estimated by the United Nations in 2014 to be at a minimum of $13 billion annually. Additionally, the effort to keep shorelines clear of marine debris comes at a significant cost. A 2012 study determined that 90 West Coast communities in the United States spent a total of more than $520 million each year to combat litter.
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Oil spills: a form of point source pollution that has large impacts
Oil spills are a form of point source pollution that has large impacts. Point source pollution refers to pollution that comes from a single source, such as an oil or chemical spill. While these events are less frequent, they often have significant consequences. Oil spills can occur in oceans and coasts, as well as inland due to factors like pipelines, trains, and oil tankers.
Oil spills have detrimental effects on both the natural and cultural resources within an ecosystem. The longer the oil remains in the environment, the more damage it inflicts. Oil is challenging to recover once it has been spilled, as it permeates the ecosystem and persists over time. The impact of oil spills can be understood through two primary mechanisms: fouling or oiling, and oil toxicity.
Fouling or oiling occurs when oil physically harms a plant or animal. Oil can coat a bird's wings, rendering it unable to fly, or it can strip away the insulating properties of a sea otter's fur, making the animal susceptible to hypothermia. The degree of oiling influences the affected creature's chances of survival.
Oil toxicity arises from the various toxic compounds present in oil. These compounds can induce severe health issues, including heart damage, stunted growth, immune system dysfunction, and even death. Oil spills also contaminate seafood, making it unsafe for human consumption.
The environmental damage caused by oil spills is substantial, leading to oil-coated shorelines and the death of wildlife, particularly seabirds and marine mammals. The cleanup and restoration costs associated with oil spills are significant. In the United States, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 established that those responsible for oil spills can be held accountable for the financial burden of remediation and restoration. Over the last three decades, more than $9 billion has been recovered from the parties accountable for oil spills to restore the affected areas.
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Microplastics: plastic fibres, tire particles and paint particles are common
Microplastics are a significant contributor to ocean pollution, with plastic fibres, tire particles, and paint particles being the most common forms. These tiny plastic particles, measuring less than 5mm in size, originate from a variety of sources and have severe environmental and economic impacts.
Plastic fibres, also known as microfibers, are released from synthetic textiles during the washing process. A single load of laundry can generate up to 18 million plastic microfibers, which eventually find their way into freshwater environments and the ocean. Synthetic textiles, such as polyester, acrylic, or nylon-based clothing, are major sources of these plastic fibres, and they account for approximately 35% of ocean microplastics.
Tire particles, or tire-wear particles, are another significant source of microplastic pollution. These particles are shed from car tyres as they drive on roads, contributing to both road dust and ocean pollution. The abrasion of tyres during driving results in the release of microplastics, which are then carried by wind and water into oceans and other water bodies. Tire particles are particularly prominent in the Americas, Europe, and Central Asia, where they dominate as a source of microplastics.
Paint particles are the largest source of microplastic leakage into oceans and waterways, contributing about 1.9 million metric tons per year. Paint particles can slough off from buildings or vessels that have been freshly painted, adding to the microplastic pollution in the ocean.
The presence of these microplastics in the ocean has severe consequences. Marine animals can mistake them for food, leading to ingestion and accumulation in their bodies. This results in plastic contamination in seafood, with a person consuming seafood estimated to ingest 11,000 microplastic particles per year. Microplastics have also been found in drinking water, salt, beer, and soil, posing potential health risks to humans and wildlife.
The economic costs of plastic pollution in the ocean are significant, estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD annually. These costs are expected to rise as plastic production continues to contribute to the climate crisis.
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Frequently asked questions
A recent study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin reported that plastic pollution in the world’s oceans costs society up to $2.5 trillion a year. According to The Guardian, plastic waste is said to cost up to $33,000 per ton in reduced environmental value.
The most well-known sources of plastic pollution in the ocean are single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, bottles, food wrappers, and bottle caps. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, also known as "ghost gear," is another significant source, contributing to 46-70% of floating macroplastics in the ocean. Microplastics, smaller than 5mm, are another source, originating from sources like synthetic textiles, tire wear, and paint particles.
Ocean pollution has widespread negative impacts on marine life and ecosystems. It harms and kills marine animals through ingestion or entanglement, damages sensitive habitats, and interferes with navigation safety. Additionally, noise pollution from shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones, which are a vital food source for larger creatures. Greenhouse emissions contribute to ocean acidification, making it difficult for bivalves like mussels and oysters to form shells, disrupting the food chain and impacting the shellfish industry.
