Advanced — The Ocean’s Plastic Problem

A map showing the convergence zones where ocean currents concentrate debris across the Pacific basin (via noaa.gov).

Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic enter the world’s oceans. This is equal to dumping one garbage truck full of plastic into the sea every minute. For people learning about environmental issues, plastic pollution in the ocean is one of the most important topics to understand today.

Where Does the Plastic Come From?

Most ocean plastic does not come from ships or boats. Instead, it starts on land. People throw away plastic bottles, bags, and food containers. Rain and wind carry this plastic into rivers. The rivers then carry it to the sea. Countries without strong waste management systems often contribute more plastic to the ocean, though wealthy countries also produce enormous amounts of plastic waste.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

One famous example of ocean plastic is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is a large area of the Pacific Ocean, between California and Hawaii, where ocean currents have gathered millions of pieces of plastic together. Many people imagine it looks like a floating island of trash, but the reality is different. Most of the plastic has broken into tiny pieces called microplastics. These are very small, often less than five millimeters. You cannot easily see them, but they are everywhere in the water.

Why Is This a Problem?

Plastic causes serious harm to ocean animals. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them. Seabirds feed plastic pieces to their young because the plastic looks like fish. Whales have been found dead on beaches with hundreds of kilograms of plastic inside their stomachs.

Microplastics create a different kind of problem. Fish and shellfish eat them without knowing. When people then eat those fish, the microplastics enter the human body as well. Scientists are still studying what this means for human health, but early research suggests it could cause damage to cells and organs over time.

Beyond animals and humans, plastic also harms the ocean itself. Coral reefs can become sick and die when covered by plastic. This is dangerous because coral reefs are home to about 25 percent of all ocean species.

What Are People Doing?

Governments, companies, and ordinary people are all trying to address this problem in different ways.

Some countries have banned single-use plastics, which are items designed to be used only once, such as plastic straws, cutlery, and shopping bags. The European Union introduced such a ban in 2021. Other countries have introduced taxes on plastic bags, which has reduced their use significantly.

Scientists and engineers are working on new technologies to clean the ocean. One well-known project, called The Ocean Cleanup, uses large floating barriers to collect plastic from the water. However, critics point out that cleaning up existing plastic is far more difficult and expensive than simply stopping new plastic from entering the ocean in the first place.

At the community level, beach clean-up events happen all over the world. Volunteers collect thousands of tons of plastic from coastlines every year. While this does not solve the larger problem, it protects local wildlife and raises awareness.

What Can One Person Do?

It is easy to feel that one person cannot make a difference when the problem is so large. However, individual choices do add up. Refusing single-use plastics, choosing products with less packaging, and properly recycling are all helpful habits. Perhaps more importantly, people who care about this issue can put pressure on companies and governments to make systemic changes, since the biggest reductions in plastic pollution will only come through policy and industry-wide action.

The ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet. Keeping it healthy is not just about protecting fish and turtles. It is about protecting the entire system of life on Earth, including our own.

Glossary

Here are the definitions for some of the important terms discussed in this article:

• Pollution: the process of making an environment dirty or harmful by introducing waste or toxic substances. 

• Microplastics: extremely small pieces of plastic, usually less than five millimeters in size, that come from the breakdown of larger plastic objects.

• Ocean currents: the continuous, directed movement of seawater through the ocean, caused by wind, temperature, and the Earth’s rotation.

• Single-use: designed to be used only one time and then thrown away.

• Coral reef: a large underwater structure made of coral, a living organism, that provides a habitat for a huge variety of sea life.

• Systemic: relating to a whole system rather than just one part of it.

• Waste management: the process of collecting, transporting, and disposing of garbage and other waste materials in a safe and organized way.

• Contribute: to give or add something to a larger total or effort.