What Can be Done to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution

  There are many different ways that people can help to manage marine plastic pollution, including large government or charity led schemes and technologies as well as smaller scale individual efforts. This blog discusses these strategies in the hope of educating you on how you can help to make a change and work towards a greener future.

  Firstly, on a larger scale, the existing international legislative frameworks must be strengthened and maintained over time to ensure their efforts have the intended impact. For example, the 1972 Convention on the Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (the London Convention and the 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) both involve the contribution and collaboration of governments and businesses. These legislations should work to extend producer responsibility and introduce low-cost solutions.

  Another system which is being used to remove plastic from the ocean is conducted by Ocean Cleanup – a non-profit organisation who aims to remove 90% of floating plastic in the ocean. They use a netted U-shaped barrier towed by two boats to collect plastic on the surface which is then collected and sorted once a week to be sent to recycling facilities. However, this method has received criticism due to the vast amount of carbon dioxide that the boats produce and the harm that the nets can cause to marine life. The system includes a camera which checks that animals haven’t been caught, but there’s still the risk of damaging the delicate aquatic ecosystems.

  Furthermore, cleaning up rivers is an extremely effective way of reducing the pollution of our ocean as 1000 of the world’s rivers are responsible for 80% of the plastic that is released into the oceans. To combat this, Ocean Cleanup have created Interceptors – solar powered vessels that guide plastic out of the mouth of large rivers. This plastic is then collected, sorted and sent to waste management facilities. The introduction of this technology has already helped to remove 2.2 million pounds of waste from rivers worldwide.

  There are many smaller scale ways that individuals can play a role in reducing oceanic plastic pollution. Large societal change would have a massive impact on the rate at which plastic is released into the ocean. Ways that you can help include reducing your plastic consumption by choosing items with compostable and recyclable packaging and becoming more aware of what is recyclable so that your recycling habits allow waste to be disposed of in the appropriate way. Another way that you can help is to join in at local marine conservation events such as beach clean-ups or fundraisers.

  Studies have found that 77% of plastic stays on the shores and beaches or in shallow coastal waters. By removing the plastic found on beaches, they are prevented from being washed out further to sea or being ground down by today action into microplastics. This demonstrates the powerful impact that beach clean-up events can have.

  Overall, there are many ways that marine plastic pollution can be managed and prevented. If you are looking to make a difference, The Big Blue Ocean Foundation is running a beach clean-up event of our own in summer 2024 on the south-eastern coastline and we would be delighted if you joined us in our journey to work towards a cleaner future. In the next blog, microplastics and their effects will be discussed in detail along with the ways in which scientists are looking to remove them safely from the ocean.

Impacts of Oceanic Plastic Pollution

Author: Scarlett Dudson Image: ead72 - stock.adobe.com

It may seem obvious that plastic pollution has a negative effect on the Ocean and its many ecosystems, but many people don’t know the true extent of the impact that it has. The recent increase in plastic pollution has presented a multitude of problems both to humans and animals.

  The plastic debris that has made its way into the Ocean has had a considerable impact on entire marine ecosystems. This is because many fish and sea birds mistake the particles for food and ingest them as a result which often leads to starvation as their stomachs have become full of plastic. Suffocation and entanglement are also threats to the aquatic wildlife, with many subsequently suffering with lacerations and infections. Furthermore, plastic waste that floats on the surface has become a way for invasive species to travel to other places where they disrupt food webs and biodiversity.

  Furthermore, plastic pollution has been seen to have a negative impact on tourism as the aesthetic value of tourist destinations has been reduced by plastic waste. This is a considerable problem as the income generated from tourism in these areas is significantly reduced, impacting the economy as a whole. There also then has to be further economic costs to clean and maintain these sites. As a result, less money can be spent on infrastructure and increasing the quality of life of the population.

  The effects of plastic pollution has been spread to human health as recent research has found microplastics in tap water, beer and salt. These plastics tend to contain carcinogenic chemicals that damage the endocrine system which can cause severe impacts on reproductive, immunological and neurological health. Moreover, when humans ingest seafood, they also ingest the plastic debris and microplastics that have accumulated up the food web. This contaminates and interferes with their digestive systems. It is unknown whether this is a hazard to human health as research is ongoing, but it should be known that, because of the chemicals plastic contains, it can pose a serious threat.

  Finally, plastic pollution has contributed to climate change. When plastic is left in landfill, it releases methane, a prominent greenhouse gas. Also, when plastic waste is incinerated, it produces and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This production of greenhouse gases increases emissions and contributes to the warming of Earth’s atmosphere which is followed by the well know devastating effects of climate change such as the rising sea level and coral bleaching.

Overall plastic pollution has a myriad of negative effects on both humans and marine ecosystems. These initial impacts will inevitably cause further damage to aquatic ecosystems as a whole as well as human health. To prevent this from occurring and reduce this damage, plastic pollution in the oceans must be managed and prevented at all costs. The ways that you can make a change as well as how we are already working towards a greener future will be discussed in the next blog.

Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans: an Introduction

Author: Scarlett Dudson Image: Rich Carey/Shutterstock

Plastic is a synthetic material derived from polymers in petroleum that can be moulded into any shape giving it many applications. Around half of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced each year is used to create single-use items including shopping bags, straws and cutlery. Plastic pollution is the accumulation of these synthetic products in the environment, particularly marine ecosystems and has become a massive threat to biodiversity.

Plastic waste is found on the shorelines of every continent in the world with over 14 million tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean every year, making up 80% of all marine debris. The main sources of this waste are improper waste disposal, littering, sewage overflow and construction. The lack of infrastructure in many countries has increased plastic pollution as ‘plastic leakage’ into the ocean and waterways has become a serious problem where there is no management of disposal systems. Furthermore, the additives in many plastic products that make them more durable, extend their life which has produced litter that takes over 400 years to break down resulting in it remaining in marine environments, damaging the ecosystems.

The plastic debris found in the ocean includes microplastics and nanoplastics which are a result of plastic breaking down under the influence of UV radiation and other natural factors such as wind and wave action. Microplastics have been found worldwide, including the top of Mount Everest, demonstrating the scale of this issue. These small particles have a higher risk of being ingested by marine organisms and have subsequently accumulated in the food web. The consumption of seafood, although it has not yet been identified as a health hazard as research is ongoing, is believed to have led to microplastics contaminating humans’ digestive systems along with the consumption of tap water and salt which are produced from elements of marine environments. This can be toxic as many chemicals in plastic are carcinogenic.

Plastic pollution in the ocean kills millions of animals every year. Nearly every species of seabird has been seen to consume plastic due to its abundance in their ecosystems. Strangulation, entanglement and starvation are also massive dangers posed to marine species, specifically due to abandoned fishing equipment and six pack ring packaging.

Overall, plastic pollution is having a massive impact on the condition of marine ecosystems which are vital for human life. She sheer scale of the issue is unbelievable, emphasising the need for change in society in order to preserve and protect the fragile marine environments. Here at The Big Blue Ocean Foundation, we aim to help the fight against plastic pollution to create a more sustainable future for all and combat the issues that have arisen already. In the next blog, the impacts of marine plastic pollution will be discussed in more detail.