Plastic pollution is adversely threatening the marine ecosystem 

We all know that plastic pollution is one of the primary causes of global climate change. In this regard, a brand-new study has revealed that it has reached an unprecedented level in the oceans over the last one and half decade. In fact, researchers involved in the study have pleaded that an international treaty is immediately formulated to stop this marine degradation.  

For those unaware, plastic pollution in oceans and seas have been a pressing concern. It forces marine animals to become entangled in larger plastic or even consume microplastics that often prove to be fatal. This is how the plastic also ends up in the food chain and are even ingested by humans. 

The latest research that has been published in the open access journal PLOS One has shown that an estimated 170 trillion pieces of plastic, primarily microplastic can be found on the ocean surfaces. In fact, the plastic can be traced back to the ones discarded as early as 2005. This number is much higher than earlier estimates. Not only that, the rate at which plastic is entering the world’s oceans only keeps accelerating, as no mitigatory measures are being taken.  

In order to carry out the latest research, the scientists took plastic samples from 11,000 stations worldwide (covering the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea) and focused on a four decades period between 1979 and 2019. Until 1990, plastic pollution was unheard of, but fast forward to 15 more years, it had skyrocketed. The data in post 2005 era is no less than alarming as it has shown rapid increase in plastic production as well as usage and discard. To top it all off, there have been severe lack of policies to control or counter this habit as well as the release of plastic into the ocean.  

For those wondering about the sources of plastic pollution on marine ecosystem, they are widespread, beginning with fishing gears (such as nets and buoys) that are dumped or dropped by accident to clothing, car tyres and single-use plastics that come through the coasts. Over time, these larger and visible plastic break down into invisible microplastic and destroy the aquatic life and ecosystem from down its very core.  

As per the current trend that has been detected, plastic use will double by 2050 and will reach approximately 450 million tonnes annually (as against 2 million tonnes in 1950), as revealed by a joint report made by two non-profits dedicated to climate crisis, namely The Nippon Foundation and Economist Impact.  

What’s striking here is that even in nations with advanced waste management system and recycling tendencies like Finland, they have done very little to pause the plastic pollution. Why? Because only a small fraction of waste plastic is properly handled while the rest end up in landfills and oceans.  

Earlier, in between 1990 and 2005, some policies had been implemented to control the pollution, such as the MARPOL Treaty (a legally binding agreement signed by 154 nations to stop plastic discharge from naval, fishing and shipping groups). But with so much more plastic produced today, even such policies have been ineffective. In fact, currently, the need of the hour is to stop plastic production and not just its eventual environmental impacts.  

In 2022, 175 nations agreed to end plastic pollution as per a United Nations treaty, but nothing has been finalised yet. Thus, for now, other measures need to be put into place. For instance, a global ban on single-use plastics and high taxes on new plastic production should be administered on priority.