Plastics polluting oceans are growing fast
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Apr 2023
The total number of plastic particles floating in the world’s oceans across all five sub-tropical gyres, costal Australia, Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean is estimated to be a minimum of 5.25tn particles weighing 268,940 tons, according to a new research published by the journal PLOS One.
The study conducted by 5-Gyres Institute researcher Marcus Eriksen and researchers at other organisations and universities collected samples by dragging a net with exceptionally fine mesh for several kilometres across the ocean surface to determine an average amount of particles per kilometre of water.
A computer model subsequently analysed how plastic concentrates as it leaves rivers, coastlines and shipping lanes. From this the researchers extrapolated to an estimate of items for the global oceans. They then tested their model against real-world concentrations.
For this study, samples were taken between 1979 and 2019 and the analysis reveals a rapid and unprecedented increase in ocean plastics since 2005.
All this pollution is overwhelming the system. We need preventative strategies and not just to focus on clean-up and recycling. We need to find replacements for single use (plastic) because recycling just doesn’t work.
The ocean supplies half the planet’s oxygen, absorbs more than a third of carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and feeds billions of people. But it is in trouble from overfishing, plastic dumping and acidification. M