Helena Joyce
Marine debris, including plastic pollution, is a pressing environmental issue that threatens the health of our oceans and the diverse species that inhabit them. Each year, billions of pounds of trash and pollutants enter the ocean, with an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic ending up in marine environments. This plastic pollution comes from a variety of sources, including land-based littering, poor waste management practices, and ocean-based sources like derelict fishing gear. The impact of this pollution is widespread, with marine life suffering entanglement, ingestion, and habitat damage, and humans facing potential health risks from contaminated seafood. Addressing plastic pollution requires a multifaceted approach, including improved waste management, reduced plastic production and consumption, and the implementation of policies to limit single-use plastics.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic entering the ocean each year | 1 million to 11 million tons |
| Amount of plastic in the ocean | 200 million tons |
| Amount of plastic in the ocean in the next 10 years | 300 million tons |
| Amount of plastic produced each year | 350 million tons to 400 million tons |
| Amount of plastic production forecast by 2060 | Triple the current amount |
| Percentage of plastic ever produced that has been recycled | 9% |
| Amount of plastic waste that is mismanaged | 25% |
| Amount of plastic waste leaked to the environment | 19 million tons |
| Amount of plastic waste leaked to terrestrial environments | 13 million tons |
| Amount of plastic waste leaked to rivers or coastlines | 6 million tons |
| Number of rivers that account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean | 1000 |
| Number of pieces of plastic in the ocean | 5 trillion to 51 trillion |
| Weight of plastic in the ocean | 250,000 tons to 269,000 tons |
| Number of marine mammals killed by marine plastic pollution each year | 100,000 |
| Number of sea birds killed by marine plastic pollution each year | 1 million |
| Number of volunteers who have participated in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup | 17 million |
| Amount of trash picked up by volunteers from the world's beaches | 348 million pounds |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution: 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges faced globally today. Each year, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean. This is the equivalent of dumping 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes every day. The majority of this plastic comes from land, with 9.5 million tonnes entering the ocean from landfills, littering, and storm water discharge, and 1.75 million tonnes being discarded directly into the sea by the fishing and shipping industry.
The rapid increase in single-use and disposable plastics has been a major contributor to the plastic pollution crisis. Only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled, with the rest being burned, buried, or polluting the environment. The production of plastic has grown exponentially, from 2 million tonnes per year in 1950 to 460 million metric tons in 2019. This has resulted in a constant flow of plastic production that is overwhelming existing waste management and recycling infrastructure.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life and ecosystems has been devastating. More than 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million seabirds are killed by marine plastic pollution every year. Additionally, microplastics have been ingested by fish and other species, adversely affecting shellfish-growing waters and potentially posing a threat to human health.
The problem of plastic pollution is not just limited to the ocean. Plastic waste is also accumulating in rivers and lakes, with garbage patches forming in every ocean due to large, rotating ocean currents called gyres. These gyres pull debris into one location, often the centre, and can range in size and shape due to winds and currents.
To address the plastic pollution crisis, it is critical to improve waste management practices, especially in poorer countries where most ocean plastics originate. Domestic policies and foreign investments in waste management infrastructure can play a crucial role in reducing plastic pollution and protecting marine life and ecosystems.
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$1157.91
Marine debris: from derelict fishing gear to microplastics
Marine debris is any substance that does not naturally belong in the water. It includes plastics and lost or abandoned fishing gear. Every year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean, with over 11 million tonnes of plastic alone ending up in the ocean annually. Marine debris can have detrimental effects on marine life, habitats, and human health.
Derelict fishing gear (DFG) is a significant component of marine debris. DFG includes lines, nets, pots, traps, floats, and other equipment that has been lost or discarded and is no longer under the control of fishers. The problem with DFG is that it is often made of long-lasting and synthetic materials such as plastic and metal, which can persist in the environment for many years. Unlike natural fibres, synthetic fishing gear is resistant to degradation and can cause ongoing harm to the marine environment.
The adverse impacts of DFG are extensive. Firstly, it can lead to "ghost fishing", where lost or abandoned gear continues to trap and kill marine animals, including fish, crustaceans, marine mammals, sea turtles, and seabirds. DFG can also damage sensitive habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, compete with active fishing gear by trapping economically important species, and pose hazards to navigation by entangling rudders and propellers. Furthermore, DFG can introduce invasive species by transporting them to new areas, where they can negatively impact local ecosystems and fisheries.
Microplastics, another important component of marine debris, are tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. They are often found in debris accumulation zones or "garbage patches", where they are carried by ocean currents and trapped by gyres. Microplastics can be ingested by marine organisms, including fish and shellfish, potentially impacting their health and the food chain. Coastal pollution, including microplastics and other contaminants, has adversely affected over one-third of the shellfish-growing waters in the United States.
Addressing the issue of marine debris requires a multifaceted approach. Initiatives such as the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative aim to remove and prevent marine debris, especially derelict fishing gear, from entering the ocean. The Fishing for Energy partnership provides a free solution for fishers to dispose of old or unusable gear, recycling or converting it into energy. Additionally, improving waste management practices and reducing plastic production and usage can help mitigate the amount of plastic pollution entering the ocean.
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Mismanaged waste: from rivers to the ocean
The oceans are polluted with a wide variety of marine debris, including microplastics, derelict fishing gear, and abandoned vessels. Every year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean. Rivers are a major source of plastic waste in the oceans. It is estimated that 1000 rivers are accountable for nearly 80% of global annual riverine plastic emissions, ranging between 0.8 and 2.7 million metric tons per year. The remaining 20% of plastic emissions are distributed across 30,000 rivers.
Mismanaged waste is a significant contributor to riverine plastic pollution. Mismanaged waste refers to plastic waste that is not recycled, incinerated, or disposed of in sealed landfills. It is at risk of leaking into the environment, including rivers and oceans. Poor waste management practices, storm water discharge, and extreme natural events such as tsunamis and hurricanes can all contribute to riverine plastic pollution.
Low-to-middle-income countries tend to have higher levels of mismanaged waste due to poorer waste management infrastructure. In these countries, waste may be dumped outside of landfills, and landfills that do exist may be open, allowing waste to leak into the surrounding environment. Countries with large river basins, high precipitation rates, and nearby cities, such as China, India, the Philippines, Brazil, and Nigeria, are among the largest emitters of riverine plastic pollution.
To combat riverine plastic pollution, it is essential to improve waste management practices, especially in low-to-middle-income countries. This may include investing in waste management infrastructure, such as sealed landfills, and implementing strategies to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering rivers, such as proper disposal and recycling initiatives. By addressing the issue of mismanaged waste, we can significantly reduce the amount of plastic pollution entering our rivers and oceans.
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Oil spills and other dispersed sources, like fertiliser
Oil spills are a major source of ocean pollution, with thousands of smaller spills occurring each year in addition to larger, more well-known incidents. In the United States, for example, over 6,000 oil spills occurred between 2010 and 2020, averaging nearly two spills every day. These spills can have devastating impacts on marine life, coastal communities, and human health. Oil spills can poison marine life, ruin beaches, and make seafood unsafe to eat. Some species may take years to recover, while others, such as migrating sea otters, may never return.
One of the most notable oil spills occurred in 2010 in the Gulf of America, when an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform resulted in approximately 134 million gallons of oil spilling into the ocean. This spill had far-reaching consequences, impacting marine life, closing beaches, and requiring a years-long restoration process. Another significant spill, known as the MT Princess Empress oil spill, spread across 120 kilometers (75 miles) of ocean, affecting the mangroves flanking the Philippine coast.
In addition to oil spills, dispersed sources of pollution, such as fertilizer runoff, also contribute significantly to ocean pollution. Fertilizers can reach marine ecosystems through rainfall, irrigation, and snowmelt, which carry excess fertilizers and pesticides into nearby bodies of water. Nitrogen fertilizers, in particular, can create high concentrations of nitrates in water sources, leading to potential health risks for humans, livestock, and other mammals. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia, resulting in nausea, dizziness, and blue-skinnedness.
Fertilizer runoff can also lead to algae blooms, which have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. Algae blooms can release harmful toxins that can poison various types of marine life. Additionally, the rapid growth of algae can deplete oxygen in the water, suffocating other marine creatures and potentially creating ''dead spots'' where normal marine life can no longer survive. These lasting effects can also impact neighboring ecosystems that rely on the affected marine life for survival.
While the exact amount of pollution from oil spills and dispersed sources entering the ocean each year is challenging to quantify, it is clear that these sources have significant and long-lasting impacts on marine environments and the communities that depend on them.
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Algal blooms: excess nutrients can cause harmful algal blooms
Each year, billions of pounds of trash and pollutants enter the ocean. Plastic pollution is a significant contributor, with around 11 million tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean annually. Marine debris, including microplastics, derelict fishing gear, and abandoned vessels, poses a severe threat to marine life, human health, and navigation safety.
Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, entering water bodies can have detrimental effects, triggering harmful algal blooms (HABs). These blooms, also known as "red tides," occur when excess nutrients stimulate rapid algae growth, leading to toxic effects on marine life and, in some cases, humans. While the immediate health impacts of HABs are known, long-term effects on human and animal health are still under investigation.
The overabundance of algae consumes oxygen, creating "dead zones" where aquatic life cannot survive due to oxygen depletion. These dead zones are primarily found in bays, lakes, and coastal waters that receive excess nutrients from upstream sources. The decomposition of algae further exacerbates oxygen depletion, negatively impacting the health of marine ecosystems.
HABs can be challenging to identify, as they may grow near the bottom of water bodies and vary in colour. Factors such as warmer water temperatures, nutrient runoff from fertilizers, and sewage waste contribute to the formation of HABs. The impact of HABs extends beyond the ecological, affecting industries such as fishing and tourism, and posing risks to human health through contaminated drinking water.
The increasing frequency of harmful algal blooms in freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, underscores the urgency of addressing excess nutrient pollution to mitigate its environmental, economic, and public health consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with 9.5 million tons entering from the land and 1.75 tons thrown in directly by the fishing and shipping industry.
The primary source of ocean plastic pollution is plastic waste that is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills. This mismanagement of waste means it is at risk of leaking into the ocean.
Asian countries contribute the most plastic emissions to the ocean, with 86% of plastic emissions coming from these countries, according to a 2017 study.
Plastic pollution in the ocean has many negative consequences, including the death of marine animals and the destruction of their habitats. It can also interfere with navigation safety and pose a threat to human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood.
To reduce plastic pollution, it is important to improve waste management practices and reduce the use of single-use plastics. Implementing waste collection and recycling globally can help address ocean plastic pollution and improve public health.
