Marine debris

Marine debris can degrade marine habitats, endanger marine and coastal wildlife and pose threats to human health and safely. Scientists and explorers believe that the best way to accrue the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is to limit or eliminate the use of disposable plastics and increase the use of biodegradable resources in human’s everyday life. Since the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is so far from any country’s coastline, no nation takes the responsibility or provides the funding to clean it up. Charles Moore, the man who discovered the vortex in 1997, says cleaning up the garbage patch would “bankrupt any country” that tried it. However, many individuals and international organizations are helping to prevent the patch from growing. The Ocean…

According to their article Who Is Responsible for Marine Debris?, Neal and Leous estimated 80% of trash found in our waters “originates on land” (Neal and Leous 258). Neal and Leous have also mentioned the amount of cruise ships and commercial vessels that not only carry from 2 to 3,000 people which can create up to “30,000 gallons of sewage” (258). Though the ships can dump their sewage a couple of miles away from land, it is the creatures of the deep who have to suffer from the contaminated…

agencies from carrying and transporting material on their vessels for the purpose of dumping them into the ocean. The only way dumping is allowed is if a permit has been granted, but permits are only granted if the materials that are being dumped may not degrade unreasonably or have the potential to harm humans or the marine environment. The Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act (MDRPRA), is an act that was established to identify, determine sources, assess, reduce, and prevent…

Cleaning Up What is Wrong Many people may argue whether or not it is necessary to clean up ocean pollution. Some believe that it is no harm to the animals. Others feel that pollution is a huge threat to the animals and can result in animal death. Even though individuals can respond by saying it is no big deal, ocean pollution should be controlled because pollution kills animals by strangling, stabbing, and poisoning. One reason people should pick up their trash is because trash ends up in the…

For marine organisms plastic debris impacts “at least 267 species worldwide, including 86% of all sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species and 43% of all marine mammal species. These impacts include fatalities as a result of ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning and entanglement” (Laist, 1997). Fish, a huge source of nutrients and economic revenue for countries all over the world, have begun ingesting plastic fragments and debris in increasing amounts. One study revealed…

issue is lessened in the slightest; It may even be worse. Everyone needs to come to a distinct agreement on cleaning up the marine environment and getting rid of the Garbage Patch. The impact on the ocean ecosystem health and on marine animals is tremendous. Turtles, birds, fish, and other animals can mistake plastic for something edible and feed it to their young most often resulting in death. Sea turtles in particular…

"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…

ecosystem for both humans and other organisms. Even the smallest changes in the amount of litter in the ocean would help, reversing the past and changing the future. If done correctly it could improve the cleanliness of the ocean, thus creating a much healthier ecosystem. Although, the trash won't completely disappear it will decrease the amount of debris in the ocean making it more livable for all organisms. The Ocean Vacuum can clean the ocean's plastic from spreading and causing further harm…

SAVE THE SEA TURTLES Nearly all species of marine turtles are endangered and the ones not endangered are considered threatened, according to WWF®. All sea turtles found in U.S. waters are federally listed as endangered or threatened. Today, thousands of young turtles hatch and begin their journey from the southeast, United States’ coast to the Atlantic Ocean. Today, only one-thousand in every ten-thousand sea turtles survive into adulthood. They are slaughtered for their eggs, meat, skin, and…

Plastic marine debris has become increasingly problematic. Angela Sun, a journalist from California, made a movie called, “Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” The movie is about plastic marine debris and how it affects wildlife. Sun heard from a friend about this giant island in the Pacific Ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Most people believe that the garbage patch is a very large, solid patch of garbage sitting in the Pacific Ocean. They do not know that the patch…