Greta Jimenez
The Pacific Ocean, which borders California, is heavily polluted by marine debris, including microplastics, derelict fishing gear, and abandoned vessels. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located halfway between Hawaii and California, is the largest of five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans. It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with a significant portion coming from rivers. This plastic pollution has severe ecological, economic, and health consequences for California. The state is addressing these issues through initiatives like the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy and support for coastal energy projects.
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The GPGP is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a large system of swirling ocean currents, including the California Current, the North Equatorial Current, the Kuroshio Current, and the North Pacific Current. The circular motion of the gyre draws debris into its stable centre, trapping it. For example, a plastic bottle discarded off the coast of California could be carried south towards Mexico by the California Current, then east by the North Equatorial Current, north near Japan by the Kuroshio Current, and finally east by the North Pacific Current. As the bottle travels, it gradually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which are not always visible to the naked eye.
The GPGP is composed almost entirely of these microplastics, which can make the water appear cloudy and are often intermixed with larger items such as fishing gear and shoes. The concentration of microplastics in the patch will continue to increase as more plastics are discarded into the environment. Additionally, about 70% of marine debris sinks to the ocean floor, suggesting that the seafloor beneath the GPGP may be an underwater trash heap.
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organisation, has been working to eradicate the GPGP and has set a goal to achieve this within a decade. Over the past three years, they have removed more than one million pounds of trash from the GPGP, equivalent to 0.5% of the total accumulated trash. They estimate that it will cost $7.5 billion to clean up the patch completely and have developed technology, System 03, to extract plastic from ocean gyres. The Ocean Cleanup has urged governments, corporations, and individuals to prioritise resolving this environmental catastrophe and make cleaning the ocean a global priority.
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Plastic pollution from rivers
Plastic pollution is a significant issue for California's Pacific coast, with plastics and marine debris viewed as a major problem by 71% of Californians. The state's facilities are struggling to keep up with the exponential growth of plastic production, which is increasingly finding its way into the ocean.
The plastic industry has shifted the responsibility of dealing with plastic waste onto the public, who are tasked with cleaning beaches and recycling, while the industry continues to ramp up production. California's recycling infrastructure cannot handle the amount or types of plastics produced today. Plastic is now found everywhere, including in drinking water and rain, and studies show that it disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities.
The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) has implemented a range of strategies to tackle the issue, including the Statewide Microplastics Strategy, which aims to reduce microplastic pollution in California's marine environment. This includes early actions and research priorities, such as eliminating plastic waste at the source, intervening within specific pathways that mobilize microplastics into waterways, and engaging in public outreach and education. The OPC also supports initiatives like reducing single-use plastics in food facilities and improving the understanding of the sources of aquatic microplastic contamination.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is also working to address plastic pollution in California. They are calling on world leaders to take action and advocating for policies that hold producers financially responsible for improving recycling and composting infrastructure. TNC is implementing solutions to match the scale and pace of the plastic pollution crisis, including reducing plastic production and consumption and improving plastic waste management.
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Sewage spills
The sewage spills occurred due to a combination of factors, including heavy rains and potential sewer infrastructure damage. The treatment plants can become overwhelmed during extreme weather events, leading to overflow and subsequent discharge of untreated sewage into the ocean. This has been a recurring issue, with previous spills reported in the same region in 2022.
The Tijuana River, which forms part of the border between the US and Mexico, has also been at the center of a transboundary pollution crisis. The Mexican government operates wastewater treatment plants and pipelines to manage sewage from Tijuana and discharge treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. However, inadequate maintenance, infrastructure breakdowns, and extreme weather conditions have led to repeated failures and overflows. As a result, tens of millions of gallons of raw sewage have spilled into the Tijuana River and subsequently into the Pacific Ocean, impacting the coastal waters and local beaches on both sides of the border.
The sewage spills have severe environmental and public health consequences. They contribute to the degradation of coastal ecosystems, including the Tijuana River Estuary, which is a "Wetland of Global Importance" recognized by the UN's Ramsar Convention. The contamination of water with human fecal matter introduces a level of toxicity that can impact the health of both people and marine life.
To address the issue of sewage spills, it is essential to invest in proper sewage treatment infrastructure and maintenance. This includes upgrading treatment plants, improving sewer systems, and ensuring adequate capacity to handle extreme weather events. Additionally, collaborative efforts between the US and Mexican governments are necessary to tackle the transboundary nature of the Tijuana River sewage crisis and protect the shared coastal waters and ecosystems.
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Plastic fishing gear
Plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California is a significant concern for Californians. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast accumulation of floating plastic waste, poses environmental and economic risks, with plastic fishing gear being a major contributor.
The bulk of the large plastic pieces in the North Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, comes from lost or discarded fishing gear and vessels. This includes items such as nets and ropes, several meters in size, that make up a large fraction of the plastic mass in these offshore waters. Abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) accumulates on remote islands in the Pacific Ocean, negatively impacting coastal and marine biodiversity.
Industrialized fishing nations, including the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, are the primary sources of fishing-related plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Trawlers, fixed gear, and drifting longlines contribute to more than 95% of the identified fishing effort responsible for plastic emissions into the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG). The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan also contributed to the plastic pollution in the North Pacific, with a fraction of the debris still floating in the ocean.
To address the issue of plastic fishing gear pollution, organizations like The Ocean Cleanup are developing technologies to remove plastic from the ocean and intercept riverine plastic before it reaches the marine environment. Their research highlights the critical role of the fishing industry and major fishing nations in ocean cleaning efforts. Additionally, Californians support policies that safeguard coastal areas, such as maintaining the rules and boundaries of national marine sanctuaries and California Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect marine life and their habitats.
While river emissions are the largest source of plastic pollution into the global ocean, stopping the input of plastic fishing gear is crucial for sustainable cleanup efforts of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Understanding the origins of plastic pollution is essential to effectively combat this environmental challenge.
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Harmful algal blooms
In California, the issue of HABs is exacerbated by the state's unique oceanography and climate. For example, the presence of upwelling zones, where deep, nutrient-rich waters rise to the surface, can naturally stimulate algal growth. When combined with nutrient runoff from land, this can result in excessive algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels and create "dead zones" where marine life cannot survive.
Additionally, California's periodic drought conditions can concentrate nutrients and pollutants in limited water sources, further promoting the development of HABs. The presence of HABs poses a significant threat to California's marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them. Fishery closures due to contaminated waters can have economic repercussions, and the toxins produced by certain algae can even accumulate in seafood, posing risks to human health.
To address the challenge of HABs, California has implemented various strategies. These include the California Ocean Litter Prevention Strategy and the Statewide Microplastics Strategy, which aim to reduce plastic pollution and nutrient runoff that contribute to the growth of harmful algae. The state's Ocean Protection Council (OPC) also plays a crucial role in safeguarding water quality through collaborative partnerships that address pollution at its source. By investing in innovative projects and research, OPC strives to enhance coastal and marine biodiversity and improve the overall health of California's precious ocean ecosystem.
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Frequently asked questions
Human activities along coastlines and far inland are the primary sources of ocean pollution.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans.
Plastic enters the ocean from thousands of sources all over the world every day. Poor waste management and littering are some of the reasons why plastic ends up in the ocean.
Plastic pollution harms marine ecosystems, marine life, and poses a threat to human health and economies. It also causes problems like contaminated beaches and fisheries closures.
The California Ocean Protection Council's (OPC) Water Quality Program aims to improve coastal and ocean water quality by reducing pollution from land to sea through collaborative partnerships and innovative projects.
