Greta Jimenez
The ocean is a vital component of life on Earth, providing key resources such as seafood and oxygen. However, human activities have severely threatened marine ecosystems, with plastic pollution being a significant contributor. Every year, billions of pounds of plastic and other waste enter the ocean, endangering marine life and damaging ecosystems. This waste accumulates in gyres, forming garbage patches, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch being the largest. Plastic pollution kills approximately 100 million marine animals annually, including fish, mammals, and seabirds, through ingestion, entanglement, and toxic contamination. It affects a wide range of species, from tiny plankton to large whales, and even reaches remote locations like the Mariana Trench and uninhabited islands. Other forms of pollution, such as chemical spills, oil spills, and nutrient runoff from farming, also contribute to the decline of ocean health and biodiversity. The impact of pollution on ocean life is expected to worsen, highlighting the urgent need for global efforts to reduce, manage, and prevent pollution from reaching our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pieces of plastic in the ocean for every person on the planet | 21,000 |
| Number of marine animals that die each year from plastic waste | 100 million |
| Number of marine animals that die each year from entanglement in plastic | 100,000 |
| Number of marine animals that die each year from plastic ingestion | 100,000 |
| Number of tons of plastic ingested by North Pacific fish yearly | 12,000-24,000 |
| Number of sea birds that die from plastic annually | 1 million |
| Number of seabird species that have ingested plastic | 60% |
| Number of sea turtles that have ingested plastic | 50% |
| Percentage increase in harmful algal blooms since 1984 | 300% |
| Percentage of ocean plastic pollution that comes from land-based sources | 80% |
| Percentage of ocean plastic pollution that comes from spills | 12% |
| Number of marine species transported in ballast waters | 3,000 |
| Number of alien species in the Baltic Sea | 100+ |
| Global rank of China in terms of mismanaged waste and plastics | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion and entanglement
Marine life is facing a grave threat from plastic pollution in oceans. Plastic ingestion and entanglement are two of the most prominent issues that marine animals are facing.
Plastic Ingestion
Plastic in the ocean, ranging from tiny microplastics to plastic bags and derelict fishing gear, poses a significant danger to marine life. Marine animals, from seabirds to whales, often mistake plastic fragments for food. According to a recent study, all seven species of sea turtles from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea had traces of microplastics in their gut. Turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their staple food, and can lead to a feeling of fullness, eventually resulting in starvation. Microplastics, due to their minuscule size, are easily consumed by marine wildlife, and they have the ability to absorb toxins, which can then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. This toxic contamination can lead to a range of issues, including internal and external wounds, skin lesions, and ulcerating sores.
Plastic Entanglement
Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, porpoises, and sea turtles, are also at risk of entanglement in plastic and fishing gear. This entanglement can lead to drowning, starvation, physical trauma, and increased vulnerability to predators. Discarded fishing nets and ropes can trap and restrict the movement of marine mammals, leading to death. It is estimated that over 100,000 marine mammals die each year due to entanglement in plastic and other debris. Additionally, smaller marine animals, such as sea turtles, can drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy gear.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is a global issue that requires urgent attention. Marine animals are suffering and dying due to the ingestion and entanglement of plastic waste. It is essential to address this problem through better waste management practices, community clean-up efforts, and the development of solutions to prevent further harm to marine ecosystems.
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Oil spills
The vulnerability of different species to oil spills varies with time. Initially, species that spend time at the surface of the water, such as dolphins and whales, are at high risk. As the oil spreads and washes ashore, it affects birds, as well as species that nest and forage along the coastline. Eventually, benthic species, such as crabs, sponges, oysters, clams, and starfish, are impacted as oil particles mix throughout the water column.
The extent of an oil spill also plays a crucial role in its ecological impact. Larger spills increase the difficulty for animals to avoid oil particles, and a prolonged presence of oil on the surface raises the likelihood of exposure for species that forage near the surface. Moreover, oil spills can have long-term effects on populations and ecosystems, with disruptions to life cycles and changes in habitat use patterns, which can have ripple effects throughout the food chain.
While natural oil seeps from the ocean floor due to the erosion of sedimentary rocks, anthropogenic causes, such as leaks and spills from refining, handling, transportation, and storage of crude oil, are responsible for the most damaging spills. These spills highlight the risks associated with our continued dependence on oil and the need for improved stewardship and climate change mitigation efforts to protect marine life and ecosystems.
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Invasive species
The presence and movement of invasive species in the ocean is a significant issue, driven primarily by human activities such as maritime trade and travel. The introduction of non-native species into new environments can have far-reaching ecological and economic impacts.
Shipping is the most common vector for the introduction of marine invasive species. Ballast water, used to stabilize ships, can carry thousands of species of aquatic plants, animals, and microbes, which are then released into new locations when the ballast water is discharged. Additionally, invasive species can attach themselves to ship hulls, anchors, and other equipment, a process known as biofouling. This allows them to hitchhike to new environments and establish populations.
The aquarium trade is another pathway for the introduction of invasive species. Some species, such as a strain of Caulerpa taxifolia, a type of green seaweed, have escaped from public and private aquariums and spread widely in the wild. This particular species has invaded the Mediterranean, outcompeting native plants and depriving marine life of food and habitat. Similarly, the accidental or intentional release of aquaculture species, aquarium discards, and excess live bait can introduce invasive species into natural environments.
The impact of invasive species on marine life can be devastating. They can lead to the extinction of native species, destroy biodiversity, and permanently alter habitats. For example, the introduction of the European crab to the US in the 1950s has cost the American fishing industry millions of dollars due to its impact on the commercial shellfish industry. Similarly, the zebra mussel, native to the Caspian Sea, has invaded the Great Lakes and other waterways in North America, fouling power plants, water purification facilities, and ships with their sharp shells, and reducing food availability for commercial and game fish.
In conclusion, invasive species are a significant threat to ocean life, and their introduction and spread are largely driven by human activities. The ecological and economic consequences of invasive species can be severe and challenging to manage. Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species is crucial for maintaining the health and stability of marine ecosystems.
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Algal blooms
HABs are triggered by an excess of nutrients in the water, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which cause an overgrowth of algae. This excess of nutrients can come from natural sources, but it is often caused or exacerbated by human activity. For example, agricultural runoff, untreated sewage, and the discharge of nutrients and pesticides can all contribute to HABs. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to fertiliser runoff from farms and lawns, which can dissolve the water's oxygen levels and trigger algal blooms.
When an algal bloom occurs, the overgrowth of algae consumes oxygen and blocks sunlight from reaching underwater plants. As the algae die off, they further deplete the oxygen in the water, creating dead zones where water quality is too poor to sustain life. Many marine species that live in these areas die, and those that are mobile, such as fish, will leave the area.
The impact of algal blooms extends beyond the immediate ecological consequences. They can also affect industries such as fishing and tourism, impacting the livelihoods of people who depend on healthy marine ecosystems. Additionally, the toxins released by HABs can be harmful to humans, with the potential to cause serious health issues.
Efforts to mitigate the impact of algal blooms include reducing nutrient pollution, planting native vegetation to absorb excess nutrients, minimising waste production, and reducing the use of pesticides, chemicals, and fertilisers in gardening and agriculture.
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Chemical pollution
Marine pollution is defined by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as: "the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment … which results or is likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources and marine life."
The total amount of chemicals entering the ocean rose by 12% between 2003 and 2012, according to the UN in 2016. While the level of chemical pollution coming from North America and Europe dropped by 60% during that period, in the Pacific, it rose by 50%. Oil spills, discharge, and shipping are major sources of chemical pollution in marine waters. Oil spills can have long-lasting impacts on the ocean and the air, and even the most advanced cleanup efforts only remove a fraction of the oil. Chemical dispersants used in spill response efforts are also dangerous pollutants. For example, 1.8 million gallons of chemical dispersants were released into the Gulf of Mexico after the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010.
In addition to oil spills, the direct dumping of industrial waste into the sea is another source of chemical pollution. For instance, an estimated 336,000–504,000 barrels of acid sludge waste generated in the production of DDT have been dumped into the Southern California Bight. Toxic chemicals can also enter the ocean through leaching from plastic waste. A wide range of toxic chemicals can leach out of the 10 million tons of plastic waste deposited in the oceans each year.
In addition to the direct impacts on marine life and human health, chemical pollution can also contribute to other environmental issues such as ocean acidification and algal blooms. Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can enter water bodies through natural or human activities, stimulating an overgrowth of algae and triggering harmful algal blooms (HABs) or "red tides." As the dense algal blooms die off, their decomposition depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water, creating "dead zones" where fish and other organisms struggle to survive.
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Frequently asked questions
It is hard to know the exact number of marine animals that are killed due to plastic pollution. Some estimates suggest that over 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste alone. This includes fish, mammals and seabirds.
Marine animals can die from ingesting plastic, which can cause intestinal injury and death. Plastic can also get caught in their digestive systems and cause them to starve. Plastic can also physically entangle marine animals, making them more vulnerable to predators and leading to starvation.
Turtles, whales, fish, seabirds and marine mammals are among the types of marine life most affected by plastic pollution. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, often mistaking it for food. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic.
Plastic pollution in the ocean comes from plastic waste that is not properly recycled or disposed of. Plastic waste can come from many sources, including faulty factories, water treatment systems, farms, vehicles and septic tanks.
To reduce the impact of plastic pollution on marine life, it is important to focus on preventing plastic waste from entering the ocean. This includes improving waste management and recycling infrastructure, as well as reducing plastic production and consumption, especially single-use plastics.
