Mary Flora Hart is a UK-based freelance illustrator specialising in immersive scenes with high levels of detail. [By Oriana Skylar Mastro] Studies show that 90% of seabirds, and 52% of all turtles on the planet have consumed plastic. Along the way, it infiltrates ecosystems and causes untold harm to marine life. The plastic affect the most to the ocean animal. The finding mirrors the view of shipowner Scorpio Bulkers, which is exiting the dry bulk sector and investing in high-end WTIVs in anticipation of high future day rates. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also know as the Pacific Trash Vortex … In 2019, experts called for more research into the effect of micro- and nano-plastics on human health. Unfortunately, it is not the only garbage patch in our oceans. Supporting campaigns and policy changes that reduce the production of unnecessary plastics is crucial, too. It spit out five plastic bags. The Three Plastic Islands. The 120 TEU Yara Birkeland is the world's first battery-electric container feeder for commercial use, and the project partners' ultimate goal is to operate her as an autonomous vessel. 11-27-2020 06:27:02. 11-29-2020 02:02:26. Less visible is the devastation that occurs through the ingestion of plastic: seabirds, turtles, fish, and whales commonly mistake plastic waste for food, because some has a similar colour and shape to their prey. There some skeptics in the world who do not believe the plastic pollution problem is as bad as people keep saying it is. We are consuming microplastics because our fish are consuming them. “The plastic that enters the ocean can be carried vast distances by currents to all parts of the world, including remote Antarctica and the Mariana trench, the deepest place on Earth,” says Winnie Lau, senior officer for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Preventing Ocean Plastics campaign. The biggest sufferers of this garbage are turtles, and all the various species of marine turtles are already threatened because of a number of reasons. Yet of all the plastic waste ever created, only 9% has been recycled, while the rest has been incinerated or discarded, mainly ending up in landfills. Plastics can also carry harmful chemicals and leach BPA into the animal’s body. How does plastic pollution impact humans? Abandoned plastic fishing nets and longlines – known as ghost gear – is also a large source, making up about 10% of plastic waste at sea. Similarly, in China government action on plastics led to a countrywide ban in 2008 on thin, single-use carrier bags. The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive. Why is the ocean so badly affected by plastic? And if we continue producing plastic at current rates, the amount could outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050. It’s used to make everything from food packaging to toiletries, clothing, furniture, computers and cars. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Researchers have even discovered that organisms as tiny as the polyps in corals regularly consume microplastics. It seems as if there is always a news story online that describes another dead whale that has washed ashore. He expected to see a beautiful ocean, but only saw plastic as far as he could see. Emma Bryce is a freelance journalist who covers stories focused on the environment, conservation and climate change. The Maritime Executive “The most important thing we must do is stop plastic from getting into the ocean in the first place, because it is not feasible or cost-effective to do large-scale cleanups,” says Lau. Plastic pollution is so pervasive that it’s been found in some of the wildest and most remote locations on our planet, including Antarctica, and the deepest canyons of the Mariana trench. Marine aquaculture contributes to the problem, too, mainly when the polystyrene foam that’s used to make the floating frames of fish cages makes its way into the sea. This causes the organisms to die, which creates a food shortage for the fish. They eat the plastic, which makes them sick. Undoubtedly, the biggest impact consumers can make is to reduce their use of single-use plastic, which contributes a significant share to plastic pollution in the sea. A big reason for this is that 50% of the plastic we produce is single use, meaning it’s intended to be thrown away immediately after it has served its purpose – like straws, plastic carrier bags and water bottles. Many fish also think that microplastics are food. One concern is that plastics in the ocean eventually degrades into nano-plastics, which are so small they could enter human cells when consumed. Research also shows that more than 800 coastal and marine species are directly affected by plastic waste through entanglement, ingestion, or damage to their habitats. The other animals that eat the fish, like bigger fish and birds, consume microplastics along with the fish. The whale likely thought the plastic bags were food, but the plastic in its stomach prevented it from finding real food. The human is intelligent enough to understand that the plastic is not the things to eat but the animals don’t. This has led to huge successes in the past, such as the ban in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries on using microbeads – tiny spheres made of plastic – in toiletries and cosmetics. In a new report, the consultancy Rystad Energy predicts that the world's supply of offshore wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) and heavy lift ships is going to fall short by the middle of the decade, reflecting a coming boom in new wind farm development and the advent of ever-larger turbine designs. One concern is that plastics in the ocean eventually degrades into nano-plastics, which are so small they could enter human cells when consumed. But there’s still lots we don’t know. Once animals consume it, ingested plastic can pierce internal organs or cause fatal intestinal blockages; it also leads to starvation, because a stomach crammed with plastic gives an animal the illusion of being full. 11-27-2020 06:44:00. The Maritime Executive From there, it goes on a long and destructive journey. This causes the organisms to die, which creates a food shortage for the fish. Now that’s being extended to gradually phase out single-use plastics across the country by 2025. Globally, we produce more than 300 million tons of plastic waste each year, and that number is rising.