What is Happening?
Over 300 million tons of plastics are produced every year. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year making up 80% of all marine debris. Marine species ingest or get tangled in plastic debris which most often causes severe injuries and also death. Plastic pollution threatens marine and human safety and quality living. The level of microplastics found in the oceans is dramatically increasing.
Plastic Consumption
Every year over 100,000 marine animals including (fish, mammals, sharks, turtles, and birds) are killed due to plastic debris in the ocean. Hundreds thousands of plastics are consumed each year by marine animals. Only in the north pacific marine species ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic.
Sources of plastic
Urban and stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, littering, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activity, tyre abrasion, construction, and illegal dumping are the main causes of plastic debris detected in the ocean. Plastic pollution in the ocean is mostly caused by the fishing industry, naval operations, and aquaculture.
Microplastics
Plastic degrades into small particles known as microplastics or nanoplastics as a result of UV radiation from the sun, wind, currents, and other natural forces. Because of their small size, they are easily ingested by marine species. Microplastics take 11% of plastic pollution.
Lack of infrastructure
Many countries lack the infrastructure needed to prevent plastic pollution, such as sanitary landfills, incinerator facilities, recycling capacity, and circular economy infrastructure, as well as proper waste management and disposal systems. As a result, plastic leakage occurs into rivers and the sea.
