Helena Joyce
The ocean is responsible for absorbing over 90% of the world's heat, and it is currently facing a plastic pollution crisis. While the South Pacific and South Atlantic are the least polluted oceans, other areas are suffering from the consequences of human activities. This includes the Mediterranean Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic Garbage Patch, the Indian Ocean, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Efforts are being made to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By the end of 2024, the Ocean Cleanup project had removed over one million pounds of trash, or 0.5% of the total accumulated trash. However, the patch continues to grow, posing a significant threat to marine life and ecosystems.
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Indian Ocean Garbage Patch
The Indian Ocean Garbage Patch, discovered in 2010, is a gyre of marine litter suspended in the upper water column of the central Indian Ocean. It is one of the five major oceanic gyres, with the other four located in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Indian Ocean Garbage Patch is the third major collection of plastic garbage in the world's oceans, with 1.3 trillion plastic pieces.
The patch does not appear as a continuous debris field. As with other patches, the plastics break down into smaller particles and constituent polymers, with an estimated concentration of 10,000 particles per square kilometer. These particles are often invisible to the naked eye, making it difficult for researchers and scientists to pinpoint their location due to treacherous currents. The plastic debris and chemical sludge in the Indian Ocean Garbage Patch have led to widespread pollution covering about 10 million square kilometers.
The pollution in the Indian Ocean Garbage Patch is primarily caused by two of the ten most polluted rivers in the world, the Indus and the Ganges, which directly flow into the Indian Ocean. The plastic debris in these rivers contributes to the formation of the garbage patch. Additionally, litter collected from Asia on both the western Indian Ocean islands and the eastern African coast is transported across the Indian Ocean via the South Equatorial Current, further adding to the plastic pollution.
The Indian Ocean Garbage Patch has severe ecological consequences. The plastic debris harms marine life, with chemicals being absorbed by fish and other marine organisms that are part of the human food chain. The microplastics also block sunlight from reaching plankton and algae, threatening their ability to produce nutrients and disrupting the entire food chain. Tropical cyclones, which cause a large number of deaths around the Arabian Sea, are becoming increasingly common due to pollution.
Addressing the plastic pollution in the Indian Ocean Garbage Patch requires a focus on prevention and reducing plastic consumption and waste. By limiting or eliminating the use of plastic, we can mitigate the negative impacts on marine ecosystems and the potential health risks associated with consuming contaminated seafood.
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Baltic Sea pollution
The Baltic Sea, located between Central and Eastern Europe, is one of the most polluted bodies of water on Earth. The Baltic Sea is almost entirely enclosed by land, making it more susceptible to pollution than other marine areas. Its narrow outlet to the ocean, between Sweden and Denmark, means that it takes 25 to 30 years for the water to refresh itself.
The sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea include municipal and industrial waste, atmospheric inputs from traffic and agriculture, and oil spills. Eutrophication, caused by an increase in inorganic plant nutrients, has led to oxygen depletion and the destruction of bottom fauna. Industrial waste and oil spills have resulted in high levels of carcinogens in the water, contributing to the decline of fish and invertebrate populations.
Overfishing is another critical issue in the Baltic Sea. Stocks of species like Baltic Cod have collapsed, disrupting the fishing industry across the region. Climate change has further exacerbated the problem, with rising temperatures and sea levels impacting the unique ecosystems supported by the Baltic Sea.
To address the pollution in the Baltic Sea, the surrounding countries organized the Helsinki Convention, which came into force in 1980. The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) acts as a coordinator and is responsible for enforcing the Baltic monitoring program and international research projects. These efforts have led to a reduction in dangerous pollutants and the regeneration of flora and fauna in some areas.
Despite these initiatives, the Baltic Sea remains under threat. Radioactive waste, pharmaceutical contaminants, and plastic waste continue to pose significant challenges. The shallow depth of the sea, with a maximum depth of only 14 meters, makes it vulnerable to cargo vessels and tankers that can run aground and further pollute the waters.
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Caribbean Sea pollution
The Caribbean Sea, located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the most seriously damaged ocean areas due to human activity. The Caribbean, known for its beauty, biodiversity, and rich marine ecosystems, is now imperiled. Coral reefs, beaches, and mangroves are critical for the sustainability of many economic activities, jobs, and inclusive growth in the region. However, the health of the Caribbean Sea is increasingly vulnerable to human activities and climate change.
A World Bank report titled "Marine Pollution in the Caribbean: Not a Minute to Waste" highlights the significant socio-economic, health, and ecological impacts of marine pollutants and proposes solutions for a transition to a blue economy. The report emphasizes the grave consequences of marine pollution, which include environmental degradation, flooding due to choked waterways, clogged sewage systems, and the contamination of soil and water sources, leading to plastic entering the food chain.
Plastic pollution is a rampant problem in the Caribbean, with as many as 200,000 pieces of waste found per square kilometre in a recent study. The region's growing populations, unmanaged coastal development, rapid climate change, increased shipping, and long-standing lack of waste collection and management contribute to the pollution crisis. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic remain uncollected on Caribbean islands each year, and severe storms further exacerbate the issue by washing voluminous waves of plastic waste ashore.
To address this critical situation, 14 Caribbean countries have banned single-use plastics and/or Styrofoam, recognizing the importance of transitioning to a blue economy. Antigua and Barbuda took the lead in 2016 with a comprehensive five-phase approach to eliminating plastics, resulting in a significant reduction in plastic waste dumped in landfills. Additionally, the Caribbean Environment Programme, under the Cartagena Convention, supports national and regional marine litter projects and promotes policy and legal reforms to tackle land-based sources of marine pollution. These collective efforts demonstrate the region's commitment to mitigating the scourge of plastic pollution and protecting the fragile marine ecosystems of the Caribbean Sea.
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North Atlantic Garbage Patch
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch, first documented in 1972, is a patch of man-made marine debris floating within the North Atlantic Gyre. It is one of the five major garbage patches in the oceans, with the others being in the Indian Ocean and the north Pacific. The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is likely as large as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch when microplastics are taken into account.
The patch is hundreds of kilometres across in size, with a density of more than 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre. It is made up of microplastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are used to make common household items. Denser plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate, used to make soft drink and water bottles, are believed to exist under the surface of the ocean. However, these denser plastics are not observed in the North Atlantic Garbage Patch because the methods used to collect samples only capture surface microplastics.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch is formed by human-created waste that travels from continental rivers into the ocean. The debris is then centralised by gyres, which collect the trash in large masses. The concentration of plastic in the patch has remained constant even as global plastic production has increased fivefold over the course of a 22-year study. This may be due to the plastics sinking beneath the surface or breaking down into smaller pieces that pass through the nets used by researchers to collect and study the material.
The North Atlantic Garbage Patch poses a significant risk to wildlife and humans through plastic consumption and entanglement. Marine life can become entangled in lost fishing nets, which continue to "fish" even when no longer under the control of a fisher. Plastic debris with loops, such as packing straps, six-pack rings, and plastic bag handles, can also entangle wildlife. Additionally, animals may mistakenly eat plastic, which can be harmful to their health and impact their ability to eat real food.
To address the problem of the North Atlantic Garbage Patch, it is essential to focus on prevention and reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastics. While there have been some awareness and cleanup efforts, such as The Garbage Patch State at UNESCO and The Ocean Cleanup, most research and cleanup initiatives have centred on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
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Frequently asked questions
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific, is the largest garbage patch in the world, estimated to cover 1.6 million square kilometres. Other highly polluted areas include the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
A garbage patch is a large area in the ocean consisting of floating plastic, litter, and debris, which comes together due to ocean currents.
Ocean pollution is primarily caused by land-based activities, with 80% of plastic pollution coming from land-based sources and 20% from marine-going vessels. The most commonly found plastics in the ocean include cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, straws, and single-use plastic bags.
Ocean pollution has severe impacts on marine life and ecosystems. It kills approximately 100 million marine animals annually and has led to the extinction of many species, including the Mediterranean Monk Seal. Pollution also affects humans, as the chemicals released from plastics are absorbed by fish and other seafood that we consume. Additionally, pollution contributes to climate change by disrupting the ocean's ability to regulate climate.
