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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: Progress and Challenges Ahead

Formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The GPGP sits precisely between Japan and the west coast of North America. The North Pacific gyre (a large system of swirling ocean currents) occupies this spot on the western coast. At this spot, winds from different areas create a vortex that generates circular motion.

Additionally, this area also brings together warm water from the South Pacific and cool water from the Arctic. The plastic waste enters the ocean, and the vortex traps it in the gyres to form mobile plastic waste patches. These waste islands move constantly, unlike the waste people dump in landfills. They keep moving, depending on the strength of the ocean currents.

Major Components in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Three primary sources contribute to the composition of this floating mass of debris:

Abandoned fishing gear: This is the biggest source of plastic in the ocean. Old fishing nets and ropes contribute to 92 percent of the garbage patch, containing macro and mega plastics. As a result, these act as a hotspot for the incoming plastic contaminants and keep them trapped in the vortex.

Land-based plastic waste: People dump almost 80 percent of plastic from land sources. When this plastic enters the ocean, heavy pieces sink to the bottom. Meanwhile, lighter pieces like microplastics float on the surface and join the garbage patch.

Fragmented plastic particles: Sunlight and ocean conditions break apart plastic waste through a process called photodegradation. This breakdown creates tiny particles: microplastics and even smaller nanoplastics. These now make up 94 percent of all pieces in the GPGP. Furthermore, their tiny sizes make them very difficult to remove from the ocean.

Impacts on the Ecosystem

Ocean Darkening

Microplastics in the garbage patch block sunlight from reaching deeper into the ocean. This blocking creates a darkening effect in the water. The lack of sunlight affects the growth of algae and phytoplankton.

Macro-plastics and ghost fishing

Fish can get trapped in abandoned ghost nets or plastic debris. Ghost nets make up 46% of the GPGP and restrict the swimming paths of marine animals. Also, many sea creatures are unable to escape these nets and die as a result.

Food chain

Plastics floating in the garbage patch contain toxic compounds called persistent bio-accumulative compounds. When ingested by marine animals, these toxic chemicals eventually build up by bioaccumulation and biomagnification in fatty tissues and mammalian milk. Furthermore, scientists also find them as polyps in coral reefs. When ingested by humans, this contamination affects the neurological, and reproduction system.

Ocean cycle balance

The garbage patch disrupts important ocean cycles like the carbon cycle and oxygen cycle. The plastic waste causes a decline in the oxygen levels in the water. Additionally, it also interferes with bio-geochemical cycles that keep the ocean healthy. This also causes changes in the behavior, reproduction, and metabolism of the sea animals.

Progress in Cleaning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and What Comes Next

Scientists face challenges when cleaning the GPGP because the garbage patch keeps moving. Also, the pollutant concentrations change depending on ocean currents. The Ocean Cleanup organization leads the cleaning of the patch. They estimate it will cost $7.5 billion to clean up the plastics within a decade.

The Ocean Cleanup project reports impressive progress so far. They have cleared 1 million pounds of plastic in the last three years, which represents 0.5% of the total garbage patch. While this seems small, it proves their system works and gives hope for future cleanup efforts.

Single-use plastic is one of the major pollutants that people dump into the ocean. Scientists predict that humans will dump almost 90 million metric tons of plastic by the end of 2030. Therefore, we must take careful steps to reduce plastic usage immediately:

Removal of Ghost Gears: The National Oceanographic Administration (NOAA) works with state and local organizations to map ghost gears floating in the ocean. They also teach fishermen safe ways to discard old fishing equipment.

Regulation Policy: State and federal governments must create strong policies that cut down on single-use plastics. These policies should require careful disposal and better management of plastic waste.

Research and Innovation: Scientists and engineers should design innovative and environmentally friendly technologies on recycling and reusing plastics in sustainable ways. Advanced recycling methods can convert ocean plastic into useful products and prevent more waste from entering the water.