PADI AWARE Foundation™ has teamed up with CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Ocean Conservancy, the US-based advocacy non-profit, to highlight the role that socioeconomics plays on global hotspots of common debris items on land and the seafloor. The three organizations co-authored a study, Socioeconomics effects on global hotspots of common debris items on land and the seafloor, which was published in the Global Environmental Change Journal in September 2021.
The research shows definitively the role of socioeconomics and litter hotspots – both on land and on the sea floor – and showcases opportunities for local policy makers and citizens alike to take action to reduce debris from entering the environment.
In the first global analysis of its kind, the team drew on comprehensive data from two large-scale citizen science programs: the 7,290 seafloor surveys from PADI AWARE Foundation’s Dive Against Debris® and the 22,508 land-based surveys from the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup of Beach Debris.
“The research demonstrates the critical need for global empirical debris data from both land and seafloor surveys,” says Ian Campbell, Policy Lead for PADI AWARE Foundation. “With the help of divers from 118 countries around the world who have contributed to our seafloor survey, we are able to understand more around the different factors that influence where and what type of debris are found both on land and on the seafloor.”
In general, findings show that the total amount of plastic pollution was higher where there was more infrastructure, such as near cities, and less litter was found in areas with higher national wealth. Key findings from this published study include:
- Hotspots are heterogenous on land and the seafloor, with different patterns among items.
- Mismanaged waste is a transboundary problem, not limited to single country or rivers.
- Abundant single-use items included wrappers, bottles and plastic bags.
- Litter hotspots linked to infrastructure, less national wealth and lighting at night.
- Sub-national hotspot management recommended to complement national programs.
The team compared anthropogenic debris density and socioeconomic drivers of the ten most common items reported on land and the seafloor. The Dive Against Debris surveys showed that the ten most common items found on the seafloor were (in order from one to ten) fishing line, plastic pieces, glass bottles, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, metal cans, plastic bags, fishing gear, plastic cutlery and rope. In contrast, the ten most abundant items on land (in order ranked one to ten) included cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, plastic bags, plastic straws, plastic take-away containers, plastic lids, and foam take-away containers and plastic pieces (fragments).
“Our study makes a strong case that not only do beach and underwater clean-ups provide critical, complementary data about the extent of debris in the ocean, but that concerted action is needed on those items common to both habitats,” says Dr. George Leonard, Chief Scientist for Ocean Conservancy.
“The analysis and insights we’ve been able to learn from these global citizen science programs are a testimony to the value of engaging community and local actions and activities. Without such tremendous efforts from citizens around the world, we would not have such rich datasets or learnings,” says Dr. Denise Hardesty, Principal Research Scientist for CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere.
“This study has highlighted the valuable role that citizen science can have in providing significantly robust data with real management and policy implications. From here, we will be able to take action in effectively targeting waste management efforts and assist these regions through our grant program to create balance between humanity and the ocean,” says Campbell.
To learn more about how you can make a difference through Dive Against Debris and join the community of PADI Torchbearers™ working together to save the ocean, visit padi.com/conservation.
About PADI AWARE Foundation
PADI AWARE Foundation™ is a non-profit public charity that drives global ocean conservation through local action. PADI AWARE Foundation engages divers and people everywhere to take conservation actions that heal and protect the ocean planet both above and below the surface, further elevating and supporting PADI’s vision to achieve balance between humanity and ocean. Backed by the power of the PADI® brand and supported by the world’s largest global network of 6,600 dive centers and resorts and more than 128,000 professional members worldwide, PADI AWARE Foundation leverages the collective influence of divers and the dive industry to address key threats facing the marine environment including climate change, marine habitat loss and vulnerable species protection. PADI AWARE Foundation advances its mission and the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action through underwater citizen science, public policy, education and community grants. www.padiaware.org
About CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO, is Australia’s national science agency. CSIRO collaborates with leading organisations around the world to solve the greatest challenges using innovative science and technology. For more information about CSIRO’s research into marine debris and plastics visit www.csiro.au/plastics or follow CSIRO on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About Ocean Conservancy
Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together with external partners, they create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org , or follow Ocean Conservancy on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media