Recycling Plastic Oceans

In the year 1869, the first of the oceans most dangerous enemy was born; plastic. 

Today, there is an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of micro and macro plastic floating in our oceans, amounting to nearly 270,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Everyday, 8 million more pieces of plastic make their way into the ocean. At this rate, it is predicted that by the year 2050, there will be more pieces of plastic in the oceans, than marine life. 

Astounding facts indeed, but why must we care? How does plastic in oceans affect anything?

Oceans are called "the lungs of the Earth", and for good reason too. Not only is it home to a colossal amount of marine animal and plant life, but the ocean also gives life to trillions of microorganisms called phytoplankton. (see About phytoplankton for more information on phytoplankton, its benefits and uses) These phytoplankton absorb carbon oxides in the water and air, convert them into living matter, and release oxygen in the process. In fact, the ocean produces around 55-80 % of the oxygen available to us in the air. 

(Phytoplankton floating on the ocean)

These heros of our environment however, just like every other life form, cannot exist independently. The marine ecosystem, all terrestrial plants, animals and microorganisms co-exist, and so affect the existence of each other. When the marine ecosystem is disrupted by even the smallest amount, there can be huge consequences to the remainder of the living marine organisms, like phytoplankton, making it extremely important for us to save the marine ecosystem, in order for us to sustain ourselves.

By killing our oceans, we are killing all life on Earth.

Now what does plastic have to do with killing oceans? Well plastic, is non-biodegradable, meaning it can float around for a million years and still stay in tip-top shape. Most translucent plastics look deceptively like jellyfish, which is a common food source for marine mammals like dolphins and whales. Unknowingly, they consume these plastics, which fills their stomachs, so that they do not feel hunger, eliminating their need to feed. These animals die within a few weeks due to a lack of appetite and by being intoxicated by chemical substances found in the plastic they consumed. Microplastics have a notorious reputation as well; these are small, that they are easily swallowed by fish, resulting in a steady accumulation of plastic in their stomach, ultimately leading to their death. Additionally, these tiny plastic pieces are also inhaled by aquatic creatures, which block their windpipes or gills, leading to suffocation. In fact, research has recently shown that many aquatic plants are able to absorb microplastics, affecting those animals that depend on the plant for food. 

The worst part is, microplastics are extremely hard to detect in the water, making it nearly impossible for us to remove them from the ocean and prevent them from damaging the ecosystem. Plastic pollution also changes ocean soil composition, directly threatening aquatic plant life. Despite the already horrifying consequences of plastic pollution, there are still other ways by which plastic claims lives in the ocean. One other example of plastic pollution is fishing gear.

(Wildlife trapped in fishing nets)

Fisheries sometimes abandon their plastic fishing nets in the ocean. If by chance it gets caught in the rocks due to the current, it poses a significant risk to the lives of nearby marine animals. Animals passing by get caught in the fishing gear, and are unable to free themselves from the tangling nets, eventually trapping and killing them. 

(The image shows the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. There are an estimated 1.1 to 3.6 trillion pieces of plastic floating around here, and it is nearly 3 times the size of France. Shockingly, 45% of the plastic waste here, comes from fishing gear, that traps thousands of marine animals every year.)

Not only do the deaths of these marine organisms affect the availability of the main food source for millions of people, it also changed the way the ocean functions, and those effects can be unimaginably terrifying. Someday, plastic pollution could drastically reduce the phytoplankton population in oceans, significantly reducing oxygen saturation in the air, sooner or later, ending life on Earth. 

(Bakelite, UK. Factory and office building of the first ever synthetic plastic, in 1907) 

"Water, the essential fluid on which all life depends, has become a global garbage can." However, this does not have to be our planets final verdict, we can still reverse some of the damage that we have caused.

Although the production of plastic may never entirely stop, laws must be put into place, for the strict regulation of manufacturing plastic bags, plates, cups, cutlery, straws, packaging etc. After all, we cannot buy what is not being sold. The prices of any disposable plastic products must be set really high, to discourage their consumption, and instead, encouraging the usage of alternatives made of cloth, metal or paper. Technological advancements are constantly occurring, if completely bio-degradable plastic bags are made, at least the potential risks of damage to the marine environment would be reduced.

Part of stopping plastic pollution includes preventing existing plastic from entering the oceans. Educational videos and advertisements can be made to raise awareness with the public, about the negative affects of plastic pollution, as well as the current situation. Beach cleanups can regularly be organised by conservation groups, to pick up the many bits of plastic that line the shores. Supermarkets that sell disposable plastic water bottles can encourage consumers to return the plastic waste back to them for a small monetary benefit, so that they can be segregated, recycled and reused. Monitoring of fisheries must also be started, to make sure they bring back every net that they left with. Perhaps even encourage them to pick up any large pieces of plastic that they come across.

(Children gathered at a beach to promote beach cleanups)

These small strides in stopping plastic pollution will make a huge difference and save our oceans, provided each and every one of us works together for this cause. Together, we can recycle our plastic oceans, and turn our envisions of a bluer, cleaner future, into reality. 

Find out more about the dangers our oceans face, and how you can help, here :  Save Our Oceans

To learn about initiatives taken by Marine Life Conservation Organisations and how you can help them make a difference, go check out this article : Marine Life Conservation Organisations

~ Mridini ♡

Image Credits :

- phys.org

- George Rothert

- New Scientist

- Birmingham mail

- Huffpost

- muralsyourway

Quote by Jacques Cousteau : " Water and air, the 2 essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans."