The Plastic Problem

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We all know plastics are bad news for the ocean. But what does plastic actually do to coral reefs and the ocean and what can we do about it? Here, the team at The Reef-World Foundation sheds some light on the issue.

According to the UN’s data, 275 million metric tonnes of plastic waste was created by 192 countries in 2010. They think between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tonnes entered the ocean. If we weren’t already aware, this starts to give an idea of the enormity of the problem – and it’s only expected to get worse. In the same year, there was estimated to be around 11.1 billion plastics in the shallow reefs of the Asia-Pacific but this was projected to increase to over 15.7 billion by 2025; just a few years from now.

Ghost gear – such as abandoned nets and fishing equipment lost at sea – is one of the biggest threats, making up 46% of plastics in floating garbage patches in the ocean.

It’s having a huge impact on the ocean. Over 800 marine species are being harmed by ocean plastics. All seven species of sea turtle have been impacted. Half of seabirds have been affected. Plus, 66% of all marine mammals. These animals are getting caught in plastic and even ingesting it (a plastic bag looks a lot like a jellyfish to a hungry turtle) and these instances of plastic ingestion and entanglement have increased by 49% in the last 20 years.

And don’t forget corals – a recent study published in the journal Science (Lamb et. al. 2018) found that corals in areas with lots of plastics weren’t as healthy as normal corals. When there was plastic present, the study showed, corals were more likely to get sick. That’s because plastic can block light and oxygen from getting to the coral – and without light and oxygen, coral can’t survive. Researchers also believe plastic can erode the coral in a way that allows harmful microorganisms to get in and cause an infection. Once the infection has taken hold, it will spread across the coral and the tissue that dies can’t then be regenerated.

It seems impossible to escape the problem. Plastic has even been found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench – the deepest known part of the ocean which plummets to depths of 10,994 metres. And once it’s there, it isn’t going away. Although plastic does break down into smaller pieces, most plastics don’t biodegrade completely and can stay in the environment for many years. That’s why you’ll see tiny pieces of microplastics scattered across beaches – these tiny pieces of plastic are hardy and could stay in the environment forever.

While it might seem bleak, have hope. Together, we can all take actions that protect our coral reefs from harmful plastics, such as: reducing our intake of single-use plastics, refusing items such as straws and plastic water bottles, reusing plastic items as many times as we can and recycling them responsibly when they come to the end of their lifespan. If you’re located by the ocean (or just on holiday), pick up any litter you spot on the beach or, even better, take part in an organised beach or underwater clean-up. For those who would like to support Reef-World’s work in protecting coral reefs from plastic and other threats, donations are always gratefully received.

Dive operators can pro-actively reduce their negative environmental impact by volunteering to follow the Green Fins Code of Conduct and, if they’re located in an active Green Fins country, signing up to become a member. Green-Fins has posters available for members and non-members alike to download and display for free – they’re a great reminder of all the things you can do to reduce your use of single-use plastics and raise awareness. We’ve been part of creating this problem – now let’s be part of the solution.

The Reef-World Foundation leads the global implementation of the UN Environment’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. To keep up with our latest news and developments, please follow Reef-World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow the Green Fins initiative on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with new materials, updates and sustainability insights from Green Fins members.