The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Not What You Think It Is | The Swim

Summary

This video explores the growing issue of ocean plastic pollution, focusing on how plastic waste accumulates in ocean gyres, forming what is often misrepresented as the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch.' Environmental scientist Marcus Eriksen discusses how plastic travels in the ocean, while researchers like Dr. Sarah-Jeanne Royer work on tracking and identifying debris using advanced technologies. Despite the alarming prediction that plastic could equal fish populations by 2050, the video highlights innovative solutions, the importance of reducing single-use plastics, and ongoing global efforts to tackle marine pollution.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The crew of Seeker frequently encounters large amounts of plastic pollution on their Pacific trek, highlighting the extent of marine plastic pollution.
• 🐟 By 2050, it's predicted that the ocean could contain as much plastic as fish, raising concerns about marine ecosystems.
• 🗑️ Marine plastic comes mainly from single-use items like straws, bags, bottles, and stir sticks, which people discard after one use.
• 🌪️ Plastics accumulate in ocean gyres, large circular currents that trap trash in regions like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• 👟 The idea of the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' began in 1990 after a container ship spilled 61,000 sneakers into the ocean.
• 🧩 The garbage patch is not a solid island but rather a 'smog' of microplastic particles spread over a large area, causing extensive environmental harm.
• 🔬 High-density plastics like polyethylene, found in common consumer goods, persist for decades in the ocean due to their resistance to natural decay.
• 🚢 Scientists use boats and advanced tracking systems like GPS buoys to study and track ocean plastic, helping improve cleanup strategies.
• 🧪 Research teams employ spectroscopy to analyze plastic debris and track its origin, revealing crucial information about the types of plastics polluting the ocean.
• 🌍 Efforts to address ocean plastic are growing, with innovative cleanup solutions, new packaging technologies, and consumer choices contributing to reducing the problem.

Q & A

What is the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch'?

The 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' refers to a large area in the Pacific Ocean where marine debris, primarily microplastic particles, accumulates. It's not a visible island of trash but rather a 'smog' of tiny, toxic plastic particles spread over a vast area.

How does plastic waste travel in the ocean?

Plastic waste travels in the ocean via large circular currents known as gyres. For example, a plastic bottle leaving California can reach Japan in three to five years, eventually circulating back across the North Pacific, where it becomes trapped in these gyres.

What role do scientists like Marcus Eriksen play in addressing marine plastic pollution?

Environmental scientist Marcus Eriksen has dedicated his life to solving marine plastic pollution. His team studies plastic accumulation in ocean gyres, tracks plastic debris, and works with ocean modelers to map plastic concentrations, helping inform cleanup efforts.

Why is plastic pollution so persistent in the ocean?

Plastic is designed to resist natural decay. Unlike materials like metal, wood, or paper, plastic does not oxidize or become waterlogged. Even when it breaks apart into microplastic, it remains in the ocean, continuing to pose environmental threats.

What are some key challenges in tracking ocean plastic?

Tracking ocean plastic is difficult because much of it is small and widely dispersed. Many items, like bottle caps, are commonly found, while the rest of the plastic, like the bottles themselves, sink. Around 99% of ocean-bound plastic waste is still unaccounted for.

What innovative methods are being used to track marine debris?

Scientists like Dr. Sarah-Jeanne Royer and her team use GPS buoys to tag and track large pieces of marine debris, allowing them to monitor the movement of plastic waste and improve models of oceanic plastic distribution.

Why is plastic waste harmful beyond the visible pollution?

Plastic waste is harmful not only because of its physical presence but also because it absorbs and transports harmful toxins. These toxins can spread far and wide, even entering the food chain and causing damage to marine life and human health.

How does plastic pollution contribute to climate change?

Plastic pollution can choke the ocean's ability to absorb CO2, worsening climate change. As plastic spreads, it disrupts marine ecosystems and hinders the ocean’s capacity to act as a carbon sink.

What are some solutions being developed to combat ocean plastic pollution?

Organizations and scientists are developing innovative solutions, such as new packaging materials and cleanup technologies. Public awareness is also growing, with consumers making more informed choices and governments and companies committing to reducing plastic waste.

How can individuals contribute to reducing ocean plastic pollution?

Individuals can help by refusing single-use plastics like straws, bags, and bottles. Reducing personal plastic consumption positively impacts local watersheds, neighborhoods, and ultimately the ocean, contributing to global efforts to stop plastic waste from entering the sea.