The Impact of Plastic on Marine Life: What You Need to Know

What is Plastic Pollution?

Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic products in the environment, especially the ocean, that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans.

It is caused by the overly excessive use of plastic products and improper disposal methods that allow plastics to enter ecosystems and waterways.

Some key points about plastic pollution:

• It comes from both land-based sources like litter, illegal dumping, poor waste management, and ocean-based sources like shipping, fishing, and offshore oil/gas operations.
• It includes visible larger plastic items like bottles, bags, fishing gear, etc. as well as microplastics which are tiny plastic particles from the breakdown of larger items.
• Plastic pollution is found in the deepest ocean trenches, on remote islands, and throughout the marine food chain.
• It causes severe issues for marine life through entanglement, ingestion, disrupting ecosystems, transferring toxic chemicals, and more.
• It is a major environmental problem globally that requires better plastic waste management, reduction in plastics use, proper disposal methods, and cleanup efforts to mitigate its damaging impacts.

Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans has become a crisis of staggering proportions. Every year, an estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste enters the marine environment, according to a study by researchers from the University of Georgia and the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (Jambeck et al., 2015).

This plastic pollution poses a severe threat to marine ecosystems and the countless species of animals that call the oceans their home.

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Sources of Plastic Pollution in the Ocean

The sources of plastic pollution in the ocean can be broadly categorized into land-based and ocean-based sources.

Land-based sources, such as improper waste management practices, littering, and inadequate recycling systems, account for a significant portion of plastic pollution. According to the Ocean Conservancy, approximately 80% of marine debris originates from land-based activities (Ocean Conservancy, 2022).

Ocean-based sources of plastic pollution include fishing gear, shipping containers, and other maritime activities. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, known as “ghost gear,” accounts for about 10% of all marine litter (UNEP, 2021).

Another significant contributor to marine plastic pollution is microplastics – tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters.

A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that microplastics are ubiquitous in the ocean, with concentrations reaching up to millions of particles per cubic meter in some regions (Eriksen et al., 2014).

Effects of Plastic on Marine Life

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is far-reaching and devastating. One of the most visible effects is entanglement, where animals become trapped or caught in plastic debris, leading to injury, restricted mobility, and often death.

According to a report by the Ocean Conservancy, over 800 species of marine and coastal animals have been affected by entanglement or ingestion of plastic (Ocean Conservancy, 2022).

Ingestion of plastic is another significant threat to marine life. Animals often mistake plastic for food, leading to digestive issues, starvation, and the transfer of toxic chemicals into their bodies. A study by the Alfred Wegener Institute found that over 90% of seabird species have ingested plastic debris (Kühn & van Franeker, 2020).

Plastic pollution also contributes to habitat degradation, disrupting sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs. A study published in Science found that plastic debris can increase the risk of disease for corals by acting as a vector for pathogens (Lamb et al., 2018).

Specific Impacts on Different Marine Species

Fish and shellfish are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of plastic pollution. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that over a quarter of fish sampled from markets in Indonesia and California contained plastic debris in their digestive systems (Rochman et al., 2015).

This not only affects the health of the fish but also raises concerns about the potential transfer of plastic-associated chemicals to humans through consumption.

Sea turtles are among the most affected by plastic pollution, as they often mistake plastic bags and other debris for jellyfish, one of their primary food sources. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, over 50% of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic debris (Sea Turtle Conservancy, 2023).

Seabirds are also heavily impacted by plastic pollution, with countless individuals suffering from entanglement or ingestion of plastic debris.

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that nearly 60% of all seabird species have ingested plastic, with some species having a 90% probability of ingesting plastic debris (Wilcox et al., 2015).

Marine mammals, such as whales and seals, are not immune to the impacts of plastic pollution either. A study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin found that over 60% of stranded whales and dolphins examined had ingested plastic debris (Kühn et al., 2015).

Long-term Consequences

The long-term consequences of plastic pollution in the ocean are far-reaching and potentially catastrophic. The disruption of food chains and ecosystems due to the impacts on marine life can have cascading effects on the entire marine environment.

Additionally, the potential transfer of plastic-associated chemicals to humans through the consumption of contaminated seafood raises significant public health concerns.

From an economic perspective, plastic pollution in the ocean can have devastating impacts on industries such as fishing and tourism, which rely on healthy and pristine marine environments.

A report by the United Nations Environment Programme estimates that the economic costs of plastic pollution in the ocean could reach $13 billion per year by 2025 (UNEP, 2022).

Potential Solutions and Mitigation Strategies

Addressing the plastic pollution crisis in the ocean requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders, including individuals, communities, governments, and industries.

Reducing plastic waste at the source is an important step. This can be achieved through policies that promote the use of alternative materials, implementing effective waste management systems, and encouraging the adoption of circular economy principles that prioritize reuse and recycling.

Improving waste management and recycling infrastructure, especially in coastal communities and developing countries, can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean. Beach cleanups and other clean-up efforts can also help mitigate the immediate impacts of plastic pollution on marine life.

Promoting public awareness and education about the impacts of plastic pollution is essential for fostering behavior change and encouraging sustainable practices. Initiatives such as the United Nations’ Clean Seas campaign aim to raise global awareness and inspire action to combat plastic pollution (UNEP, 2022).

The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is a pressing environmental issue that demands immediate attention and action.

The staggering amount of plastic waste entering the ocean each year poses a severe threat to countless species of marine animals, disrupting fragile ecosystems and food chains.

By acknowledging the severity of this crisis and taking collective action, individuals, communities, governments, and industries can play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life.

Reducing plastic waste at the source, improving waste management practices, and promoting public awareness are essential steps toward protecting our oceans and the incredible biodiversity they harbor.

The time to act is now. By working together and implementing effective solutions, we can safeguard the health of our oceans and ensure a sustainable future for the countless species that call the marine environment home.

References:

Eriksen, M., Lebreton, L. C., Carson, H. S., Thiel, M., Moore, C. J., Borerro, J. C., … & Reisser, J. (2014). Plastic pollution in the world’s oceans: more than 5 trillion plastic pieces weighing over 250,000 tons afloat at sea. PloS one, 9(12), e111913.

Jambeck, J. R., Geyer, R., Wilcox, C., Siegler, T. R., Perryman, M., Andrady, A., … & Law, K. L. (2015). Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science, 347(6223), 768-771.

Kühn, S., Bravo Rebolledo, E. L., & van Franeker, J. A. (2015). Deleterious effects of litter on marine life. In Marine anthropogenic litter (pp. 75-116). Springer, Cham.

Kühn, S., & van Franeker, J. A. (2020). Quantitative overview of marine debris ingested by marine megafauna. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151, 110858.

Lamb, J. B., Willis, B. L., Fiorenza, E. A., Couch, C. S., Howard, R., Rader, D. N., … & Harvell, C. D. (2018). Plastic waste associated with disease on coral reefs. Science, 359(6374), 460-462.

Ocean Conservancy. (2022). The Facts About Plastic Pollution. Retrieved from https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean/

Rochman, C. M., Tahir, A., Williams, S. L., Baxa, D. V., Lam, R., Miller, J. T., … & Teh, S. J. (2015). Anthropogenic debris in seafood: Plastic debris and fibers from textiles in fish and bivalves sold for human consumption. Scientific reports, 5(1), 1-10.

Sea Turtle Conservancy. (2023). Plastic Threat to Sea Turtles. Retrieved from https://conserveturtles.org/plastic-threat-to-sea-turtles/

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021). Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/working-regional-seas/marine-litter/abandoned-lost-or

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2022). Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/addressing-marine-plastic-pollution

Wilcox, C., Van Sebille, E., & Hardesty, B. D. (2015). Threat of plastic pollution to seabirds is global, pervasive, and increasing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(38), 11899-11904.