Helena Joyce
The Pacific Ocean is heavily polluted by plastic waste, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaii and California, estimated to be twice the size of Texas and triple the size of France. While every country contributes to plastic pollution, some of the top polluters of the Pacific Ocean include China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Thailand. These countries have a combination of factors that increase the likelihood of plastic pollution, such as smaller geographical areas, longer coastlines, high rainfall, and inadequate waste management systems. Rivers are the primary source of ocean plastic pollution, with 80% of plastic entering the ocean from rivers and coastlines. The remaining 20% comes from marine sources like fleets, fishing nets, and ropes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ocean with the largest amount of plastic | North Pacific |
| Second most plastic-polluted ocean | Indian Ocean |
| Third most plastic-polluted ocean | North Atlantic |
| Plastic waste in oceans weighs as much as | 268,000 tons |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch size | 1,600,000 square kilometres |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic mass | 100 million kilograms |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic pieces | 1.8 trillion pieces |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic pieces per person | 160 pieces |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic mass made of microplastics | 8% |
| Great Pacific Garbage Patch plastic mass made of larger objects | 92% |
| Countries with the most plastic waste in the ocean | China, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, US, Taiwan |
| Main sources of ocean plastic pollution | Rivers, marine sources like fleets, fishing nets, and ropes |
| Percentage of ocean plastic pollution from marine sources | 20% |
| Percentage of ocean plastic pollution from Asian countries | 81% |
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What You'll Learn
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The patch is made up of microplastics, tiny bits of plastic that are often microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. These microplastics dominate the area by count, but 92% of the mass of the patch consists of larger objects. Some of the plastic is over 50 years old, and includes items such as plastic lighters, toothbrushes, water bottles, pens, baby bottles, cell phones, plastic bags, and nurdles. Research indicates that the patch is rapidly accumulating, increasing tenfold each decade since 1945. It covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometres, twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.
The plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from a variety of sources. A 2019 study found that 80% of plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with the remaining 20% coming from boats and other marine sources. A 2014 study reported that discarded fishing gear such as buoys, lines, and nets accounted for more than 60% of the mass of plastic marine debris. A 2018 study reported that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half the mass of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, with most identified emissions originating from Japan, China, South Korea, the US, and Taiwan. A 2020 study reported the US as the third-largest contributor of plastic pollution in coastal environments.
Efforts are being made to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By the end of 2024, the Ocean Cleanup had removed more than one million pounds of trash from the patch, but this only represented 0.5% of the total accumulated trash. While it may not be possible to completely clean up the waste in the ocean, there is a focus on reducing the use of disposable plastics and encouraging the use of biodegradable sources instead.
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Fishing gear and plastic waste
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), located between Hawaii and California, is a huge accumulation of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean. It contains 100 million kilograms of plastic, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans. The GPGP is largely composed of fishing-related plastic waste, with 75-86% of all plastic waste identified as coming from offshore fishing activity.
Ghost gear is estimated to make up 10% of ocean plastic pollution and forms the majority of large plastic littering the waters. A study of the GPGP estimated that it contained 42,000 tonnes of megaplastics, of which 86% were fishing nets. Another study retrieved over 6,000 hard plastic debris items greater than 5 cm in size from the North Pacific subtropical gyre, with a large fraction composed of fishing nets and ropes.
The plastic waste produced by nations such as the Philippines, India, Malaysia, China, Indonesia, and Brazil also significantly contributes to ocean plastic pollution. However, this waste does not necessarily originate in these countries. For example, China previously imported millions of tons of plastic from western nations. Initiatives to curb ocean plastic pollution include grassroots beach clean-ups, international agreements, and bans on single-use plastics.
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Asian countries and plastic pollution
The Pacific Ocean has the largest amount of plastic of all the oceans, with the North Pacific Gyre in the horse latitudes holding the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This patch, discovered by Charles Moore in 1997, is believed to have increased "10-fold each decade" since 1945. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France and contains approximately six pounds of plastic for every pound of plankton.
While it is often claimed that Asian countries are the top contributors to ocean plastic pollution, this narrative has been criticised as "waste colonialism" that ignores the role of Western countries and corporations. For instance, the United States is a significant exporter of plastic waste to Asia, and US companies profit from treating their plastic waste in Vietnam. Furthermore, the US and UK are the biggest per capita waste producers, at 0.34 kg and 0.21 kg per day, respectively, while the Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country in the top ten, with 0.07 kg per person.
Nevertheless, several Asian countries are among the top contributors to ocean plastic pollution. A 2022 study reported that 75% to 86% of plastic pollution comes from fishing and agriculture, with most identified emissions originating from Japan, China, South Korea, the US, and Taiwan. China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Thailand have also been identified as sources of plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean.
Southeast Asian countries are particularly vulnerable to the issue of plastic pollution due to their geographical characteristics. Countries with smaller geographical areas, longer coastlines, high rainfall, and poor waste management systems are more likely to wash plastics into the sea. For example, Malaysia has a waste spillage and an increase in household plastic waste, while Indonesia is a leading source of marine plastic pollution due to its coal-mining activities for plastic production.
Some Southeast Asian countries have taken steps to address the problem. Indonesia has banned single-use plastics in 100 cities, and the Philippines has outlawed incineration. ASEAN countries have also implemented a five-year plan to tackle marine plastic pollution, which includes reducing waste, improving collection, and creating value for waste reuse.
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Socioeconomic factors and waste management
The Pacific Ocean is one of the most polluted oceans globally, with a vortex of plastic waste thrice the size of France located between California and Hawaii. This garbage patch, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, contains 100 million kilograms of plastic. The majority of plastic waste in the ocean originates from land, with rivers being the primary pathways for plastic to enter the ocean.
Socioeconomic factors play a significant role in waste management practices and, consequently, the level of pollution in the Pacific Ocean. Developing nations, particularly those in the Global South, often lack the economic resources and infrastructure to effectively manage waste. This results in higher rates of mismanaged waste, which contributes to ocean pollution. For example, the Philippines, an island nation in Southeast Asia, is responsible for approximately 36.4% of the world's ocean plastic. This is due in part to the country's limited funding for waste management and the lack of proper waste disposal infrastructure. Similarly, Indonesia only recycles 10% of its plastic waste, resulting in a significant amount of plastic pollution in the ocean.
In contrast, high-income countries often have better waste management systems and are more capable of processing or exporting their waste. However, they still contribute significantly to plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean. For instance, the United States ranks fourth among economically developed countries as an ocean plastic polluter. Additionally, the United States has over one-third of its shellfish-growing waters adversely affected by coastal pollution, demonstrating the impact of pollution on their own ecosystems.
The size and scale of a country can also impact its waste management capabilities. For example, Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, struggles with plastic pollution due to mismanagement and incineration of plastic waste. The open burning of plastic waste has been linked to cancer-related illnesses in the country.
The impact of socioeconomic factors on waste management is evident in the comparison between neighbouring countries with similar geographical features. Australia and Indonesia, for example, differ significantly in their waste management capabilities due to their varying levels of economic development. Australia has a more developed and reliable waste management system, while Indonesia is still in the process of constructing recycling facilities.
To address the issue of waste management and reduce pollution in the Pacific Ocean, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes improving waste management infrastructure in developing countries, promoting recycling and alternative packaging materials, and supporting education and government policies that address plastic pollution. Additionally, developed nations must take responsibility and reduce their contribution to ocean pollution, as they often have the resources and infrastructure to prevent it.
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The impact on marine life
The Pacific Ocean is the most polluted ocean in the world, with the North Pacific Gyre containing one-third of the plastic pollution across all oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and California, is an infamous example of this pollution. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas, or triple the size of France, and contains around 100 million kilograms of plastic, or 1.8 trillion pieces larger than 0.5mm.
The impact of this plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. Plastic pollution in the ocean has been shown to impact 914 megafaunal species, with more than 100 of these being endangered. For example, the second leading cause of death for the Mediterranean monk seal is entanglement in fishing gear. Plastic pollution also creates microplastics and releases toxic chemicals, severely damaging marine ecosystems and the health of marine life. The durability of plastic means that once it enters the ocean, it will persist for long periods, with the oldest pieces of plastic found dating back to the 1960s.
The plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from a variety of sources, with a large amount of it being discarded fishing gear. A 2022 study reported that 75-86% of the plastic pollution in the patch comes from fishing and agriculture, with most identified emissions originating from Japan, China, South Korea, the US, and Taiwan. The US is the third-largest contributor to plastic pollution in coastal environments, and after China banned plastic imports in 2018, countries with poor waste management systems such as Indonesia became dumping grounds for US plastic.
The plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch also comes from rivers, with 80% of global riverine plastic emissions coming from the top 10 emitting countries. The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, has a large amount of plastic-emitting rivers and is estimated to emit 35% of the ocean's plastic. Other countries in the Asia Pacific Region, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Thailand, are extremely affected by oceanic waste pollution due to their geographical location and poor waste management systems. These countries also suffer from a lack of resources to process the pollution, which further exacerbates the problem.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life in the Pacific Ocean is a serious issue that requires urgent attention. With the plastic pollution in the ocean killing marine life and damaging ecosystems, it is clear that efforts to reduce the use of disposable plastics and improve waste management systems are crucial.
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