"There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic trash in the world’s oceans, and each year, 8 million tons of plastic are added to the count. That’s equivalent to one municipal garbage truck pulling up to the beach and dumping its contents every minute" (Groden). Pollution in the ocean has become a serious problem. Plastic disperses quickly throughout the ocean, causing harm to the coastlines and the open water. As time progresses cleaning up the plastic litter in the ocean will become more difficult. Humans need to clean up the ocean because, plastic debris in the ocean is becoming a big problem, it is a danger to animals and marine life, it could potentially be a threat to seafood and to the seabed.
The amount of plastic in the ocean is dangerous …show more content…
Along with that, heavier litter sinks to the bottom destroying the seabed. "Plastics in the ocean degrade into smaller pieces from the effects of sunlight, oxidation, and the abrasion of waves and currents, becoming smaller and smaller often to the point they are no longer visible to the naked eye"(Tibbetts). Many people are unaware that there is a potentially chance that the plastic fragments in the ocean could be connected to seafood. "Lead author Jenna R. Jambeck, an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia, and her colleagues estimated that, altogether, these 192 countries produce some 275 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Of that volume, about 4.8-12.7 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste is thought to have entered the ocean in 2010" (Tibbetts). Not enough people know the amount of plastic that enters the ocean each year and how dangerous it actually is. "In 2012 the United States produced approximately 29 million metric …show more content…
The importance to make it more known is growing as time progresses because the issue is only worsening. "It is estimated that of the 1.5 million Laysan Albatrosses which inhabit Midway, all of them have plastic in their digestive system; for one third of the chicks, the plastic blockage is deadly, coining Midway Atoll as “albatross graveyards” by five media artists, led by photographer Chris Jordan, who recently filmed and photographed the catastrophic effects of the plastic pollution there" (Le Guern Lytle). Plastic is not only affecting marine life, but birds who mistake it for food. A start to minimizing casualties would be beach and shore clean up. Many animals mistake broken down fragments of plastic for food, many resulting in a casualty. "On shore, the spectacle becomes even more poignant, as thousands of bird corpses rest on these beaches, piles of colorful plastic remaining where their stomachs had been" (Le Guern Lytle). Not enough people are aware of the deaths of animals that occur because of the plastic and all the litter that is washed up on shore. "According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, plastic debris kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals annually, as well as millions of birds and fishes" (Le Guern Lytle). The world’s mistakes have taken its toll on thousands of animals and marine life and not much
The amount of plastic in the ocean is dangerous …show more content…
Along with that, heavier litter sinks to the bottom destroying the seabed. "Plastics in the ocean degrade into smaller pieces from the effects of sunlight, oxidation, and the abrasion of waves and currents, becoming smaller and smaller often to the point they are no longer visible to the naked eye"(Tibbetts). Many people are unaware that there is a potentially chance that the plastic fragments in the ocean could be connected to seafood. "Lead author Jenna R. Jambeck, an environmental engineer at the University of Georgia, and her colleagues estimated that, altogether, these 192 countries produce some 275 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. Of that volume, about 4.8-12.7 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste is thought to have entered the ocean in 2010" (Tibbetts). Not enough people know the amount of plastic that enters the ocean each year and how dangerous it actually is. "In 2012 the United States produced approximately 29 million metric …show more content…
The importance to make it more known is growing as time progresses because the issue is only worsening. "It is estimated that of the 1.5 million Laysan Albatrosses which inhabit Midway, all of them have plastic in their digestive system; for one third of the chicks, the plastic blockage is deadly, coining Midway Atoll as “albatross graveyards” by five media artists, led by photographer Chris Jordan, who recently filmed and photographed the catastrophic effects of the plastic pollution there" (Le Guern Lytle). Plastic is not only affecting marine life, but birds who mistake it for food. A start to minimizing casualties would be beach and shore clean up. Many animals mistake broken down fragments of plastic for food, many resulting in a casualty. "On shore, the spectacle becomes even more poignant, as thousands of bird corpses rest on these beaches, piles of colorful plastic remaining where their stomachs had been" (Le Guern Lytle). Not enough people are aware of the deaths of animals that occur because of the plastic and all the litter that is washed up on shore. "According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, plastic debris kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals annually, as well as millions of birds and fishes" (Le Guern Lytle). The world’s mistakes have taken its toll on thousands of animals and marine life and not much