A sea of plastic: the fight to save our drowning oceans
By: Emma Carlton
Throwing away a plastic cup is quite a simple thing. It doesn’t take much effort to stand up from your couch and toss it into the garbage. But little do you know, my reader, that plastic cup will not only travel thousands of miles but will also outlive you—floating somewhere in the ocean, unable to break apart and disintegrate. Drifting endlessly in the waves, possibly even one day finding itself in the stomach of one of the very animals we are so desperately trying to protect. Plastic is everywhere. It doesn’t simply vanish into thin air—no—it stays with us, out of sight but never truly gone.
The reality of plastic pollution is staggering. Over 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, where it wreaks havoc on marine ecosystems and contributes to environmental disasters like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). This massive accumulation of trash between Hawaii and California is a stark symbol of our throwaway culture—a sobering reminder that what we discard doesn’t just disappear.
As we prepare for our beach clean-up this weekend at Tracks Beach, it’s time to confront the truth about plastic pollution: the impact it has on marine life, the role it plays in devastating ecosystems, and the steps we can take to turn the tide.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Growing Crisis
Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. Enter the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), a floating mass of plastic waste spanning over 1.6 million square kilometers, between Hawaii and California. That’s more than twice the size of Texas. Containing an estimated 80,000 metric tons of plastic, the GPGP is not an island you can walk on, but rather a swirling soup of microplastics and larger debris, endlessly trapped by ocean currents.
This massive patch grows larger every day as rivers, storms, and our carelessness funnel more plastic into the sea. Single-use plastics—straws, bottles, and grocery bags—make up a significant portion of the debris, with their durability and inability to biodegrade creating long-term problems. According to a study published by the Ocean Conservancy, over 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. That’s the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the sea every single minute.
The Toll on Marine Life
Plastic pollution doesn’t just harm the beauty of the ocean—it’s deadly. For marine life, the ocean is not just their home; it’s their pantry. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their primary food sources. Once ingested, plastic can block their digestive system, leading to starvation or death.
A 2018 study conducted by Australia’s National Science Agency found that if a sea turtle ingests just 14 pieces of plastic, its chance of dying increases by 50%. For sharks, who rely on a balanced ecosystem, the cascading effects of plastic pollution can devastate their habitat. Prey species become poisoned by microplastics, which disrupts the food chain and weakens the biodiversity necessary for a thriving ocean.
It’s not just ingestion that’s the problem. Marine animals often become entangled in larger plastic debris like fishing nets or six-pack rings, leading to injuries, suffocation, or drowning. These unnecessary deaths are the direct result of human negligence.
Hawaii: A Frontline of Plastic Pollution
Hawaii, despite its paradise-like beauty, bears the brunt of this global crisis. The Pacific currents deposit heaps of trash on its shores, turning pristine beaches into graveyards of plastic waste. Kamilo Point, often called “Plastic Beach,” is a sobering reminder of the scale of this problem. Sand mixed with tiny microplastics covers the shoreline, showing the stark reality of what our throwaway culture has wrought.
This week, Tracks Beach faces the same battle. But we’re not standing by. Deep Blue Eco Tours and Island Splash Tours is hosting a beach clean-up, and we’re inviting you to join us in fighting back against the tide of plastic pollution. Every bottle cap, fishing net, and straw removed is one less threat to the marine life we work so hard to protect.
What Can We Do?
The plastic crisis can feel overwhelming, but small, meaningful actions can create waves of change. Here’s how you can make a difference:
1. Join a Clean-Up
Participate in local clean-ups, like our event this weekend at Tracks Beach. Every piece of trash you remove helps restore our shores and safeguard marine life.
2. Ditch Single-Use Plastics
Invest in reusable bags, bottles, and straws. By cutting down on single-use items, you can reduce the demand for new plastic production and help prevent waste from reaching the ocean.
3. Educate Others
Share what you’ve learned. Many people don’t realize the scope of the problem until they see it for themselves. Spread awareness, post on social media, and inspire others to join the fight.
4. Support Policy Changes
Advocate for legislation that bans single-use plastics, like Hawaii’s plastic bag bans. These policies are critical to reducing waste at the source.
5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Follow the three R’s. Recycling alone won’t solve the problem, but it plays an important role when combined with efforts to reduce overall consumption.
A Shared Responsibility
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not just a problem “out there.” It’s a reflection of our collective choices. Every non-plastic water bottle reused, every straw refused, every reusable bag chosen makes a difference. The ocean can’t fight this battle alone, but together, we can turn the tide.
This weekend, join us at Tracks Beach. Let’s do our part, piece by piece, to clean up our shores and protect the ocean’s inhabitants. It’s not just about removing trash; it’s about restoring balance, respect, and responsibility to the natural world.
The plastic problem didn’t start overnight, and it won’t end overnight. But every step matters. Together, we can make a difference—not just for the ocean, but for the planet and future generations.
Resources:
Ocean Conservancy, The Role of Plastics in Marine Pollution
Australia’s National Science Agency, Impact of Plastic on Marine Life
EcoWatch, 22 Facts About Plastic Pollution
Photo: Meg Cowley (@megcowley3)
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