Why We Need to Stop Using Plastics: Ocean Pollution
A sea turtle swims through the water and spots a white blob floating near
the surface. “Yum!” it thinks. “A jellyfish!” Chasing after its dinner, the turtle
swallows the item. But the floating blob isn’t a jelly—it’s a plastic bag that
could make the sea turtle sick, or worse I believe that we need to stop the
use of plastics. Things like this are happening in our ocean, every day.
This sea creature isn’t alone: Over 700 species of marine animals have
been reported to have eaten or been entangled in plastic. Some of the
most affected marine live include seals and sealions, seabirds, fish, and
last but definitely not least, whales and dolphins. Like many other marine
animals, sea turtles mistake plastic waste for a viable food source,
sometimes causing blockages in their digestive system.
First, let’s get real: Not all plastic is bad. Bike helmets, car airbags, and
many medical supplies made with plastic save lives. Plastic water bottles
can bring clean drinking water to people who don’t have it, and plastic
straws can help people with disabilities drink. The problem is that most of
us use and then toss way more plastic than we need: things like grocery
bags, drink bottles, straws, food wrappers, and plastic packaging around
toys. This kind of plastic that’s used only once before being thrown away is
called single-use plastic, and it makes up more than 40 percent of all
plastic trash.
Secondly, that’s a lot of trash. Scientists think that 8.8 million tons of plastic
winds up in the ocean every year—that’s as if you stacked up five plastic
grocery bags full of trash on top of each other on every foot of coastline in
the world. Though the declining sea turtle populations in the oceans are
due to a variety of factors (most all of which involve human actions), plastic
pollution plays a significant role. Marine life can become entangled in a
variety of ocean debris including fishing nets, lines, and lures. Still, there
are a number of seals and sea lions that become entangled in plastic bags
or plastic packing bands leading to injury and death. Plastic pollution leads
to the deaths of millions of marine bird species each year. Possibly more so
than other birds, the Laysan albatross has been deeply impacted by plastic
debris through their hunting techniques. When the albatross dives into the
ocean to catch fish, squid or other food they use their beak to skim the
surface, picking up plastic along the way. Of course, plastic pollution deeply
impacts species of fish, but unlike other animals on our list, this is the one
animal that’s also commonly eaten by humans.
Thirdly, a number of studies suggest that the fish humans continue to
consume have at one time or another ingested plastic microfibers, including
brown trout, cisco, and perch. A study also found that hundreds of
species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) have been negatively impacted
by plastic pollution in the past two decades. The blockage, often puncturing
and tearing the stomach lining, can lead to starvation and death. According
to Marine Pollution Bulletin, cetaceans are ingesting plastic debris at a rate
as high as 31 percent, and in turn, 22 percent of those cetaceans were at
an increased risk of death. Scientists think that the amount of plastic in the
ocean might triple by 2050—and that would mean seriously bad news for
the ocean and the creatures that live there. But by understanding the issue
and taking action, you can help stop that from happening.
How does it get into the sea? Plastic left on the ground as litter often blows
into creeks and rivers, eventually ending up in the ocean. And because
plastic trash is different from other types of waste—it doesn’t decompose
back into nature like an apple core or a piece of paper—it stays in the
ocean forever. That means discarded fishing nets and six-pack rings can
entangle animals; harmful straws and grocery bags can be mistaken as
food.
You can do so much to help keep Earth clean! You can look at how much
single-use plastic your family uses by filling out a plastic journal for a week
—then talking about what you can do to use less. You can also stop the
use of single-use plastics. By working together, our choices can help save
animals—and the ocean they live in.
SOURCES:
https://oceana.org/living-blue/10-ways-you-can-help-save-oceans
https://ocean.si.edu/conservation/pollution
https://www.oceanunite.org/issues/marine-plastic-pollution/
https://blog.arcadia.com/causes-effects-of-ocean-pollution/
https://www.savecoastalwildlife.org/stop-plastic-pollution
