Plastic Ocean
Humans have a huge impact on the seas and oceans. We study them in great detail so that we can learn more about them and help to protect them. But, we also mistreat and damage them. Sadly, it is mostly a negative effect that humans have on our seas and oceans. Over- fishing, oil spills and the huge amount of waste that makes its way into the oceans are just a few examples of the damage we have caused.
One of the biggest waste culprits is plastic. Plastic takes so long to break down which means that all of the pieces of plastic in the ocean right now will exist for at least another 500 years. Currently only a small percentage of plastic is recycled and the rest ends up in our oceans. It is thought that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish.
Hundreds of marine species are affected by this plastic problem. Sea turtles often eat plastic bags, mistaking them for their favourite food, jellyfish, which can be fatal. Whales feeding on fish that have also eaten plastic are found with large amounts of plastic in their stomach, often killing the whale. Some of the fish that end up on our plates have even been found to contain plastic.
Sea birds, such as gannets, make their nests from whatever they find at sea but this can often include plastic netting and monofilament fishing line which results in fledglings being tangled up in the plastic. As a result, they are unable to fly and can even be strangled by the plastic. Seabirds also eat a huge amount of plastic from our oceans, all of which remains in their stomach and can result in their death.
But the story isn’t all bad – scientists are exploring new ways of tackling this problem, some solutions include using enzymes which ‘eat’ plastic and huge machines which scoop plastic out of the ocean and are then recycled. New ways of packaging are also being developed which avoid using hard plastics. These include compostable or biodegradable plastics made from plant materials, which break down naturally.
Governments worldwide are introducing bans and levies on plastic bags and bottles, discouraging their use and encouraging people to find greener alternatives to fight this tide of plastic and clean up the oceans for future generations.
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