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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) presents a vivid yet often misleading image of our oceans, with photos showcasing towering piles of debris and thick layers of waste on the water’s surface. However, these depictions do not reflect the true nature of the GPGP, its historical context, or the risks it poses to marine ecosystems.
A voyage to the “soup of microplastics”
Embarking on a journey to the GPGP is no small feat. For Bruno Sainte-Rose, who leads computational monitoring at The Ocean Cleanup, this expedition starts at Victoria Harbour in Canada.
As the vessel sails southwest, the initial segment of the trip presents a relatively clear expanse of ocean. “Three and a half days in, the view changes dramatically,” Sainte-Rose explains, noting a sharp increase in debris sightings. Contrary to the images of clusters of waste, what emerges in the GPGP resembles a “soup of microplastics,” with larger debris, like abandoned nets, scattered throughout. According to The Ocean Cleanup, an astonishing 86 percent of the plastics found in this patch trace back to fishing activities. This accumulation has led to an area of ocean two times the size of Texas now being designated as the GPGP.
Fifty years of trash
Reports of a growing accumulation of human-made debris in the North Pacific date back to 1973. As a 2023 study noted, there are an estimated 171 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean, surprising researchers given the distance from any landmass. “Interestingly, the International Space Station is often closer to the GPGP than it is to the majority of humans,” Sainte-Rose remarks.
Situated within the North Pacific Gyre, the GPGP is ensnared by a systematic network of ocean currents that draw in plastic and detritus, leading to its formation. This area consists of two principal zones: the Western Garbage Patch, located near Japan, and the Eastern Garbage Patch, situated between California and Hawaii. While these zones can shift and vary in size, the debris remains trapped within the gyre’s currents.
The term “patch” can mislead the public into believing these areas are solid islands of trash. In reality, the pollution is dispersed across the water’s surface and stretches down to the ocean floor.
In 2024, The Ocean Cleanup managed to recover 11.5 million kilograms of waste from oceans and rivers. Estimations suggest that it will take around $7.5 billion and approximately a decade to fully clear the GPGP.
The plastic ecosystem
Debate exists around the effectiveness of the cleanup efforts in addressing the plastic pollution crisis. The Ocean Cleanup employs extensive net systems to collect waste, which primarily target larger plastic pieces. However, with over 90 percent of the debris comprising microplastics less than 5 millimeters in size, these systems may not significantly alleviate the issue.
Marine microbiologist Sonja Oberbeckmann notes that while some organisms attach to plastic, many of these microbes also thrive on natural debris. Moreover, evidence suggests the presence of invasive species among the microorganisms hitching rides on the plastic, further complicating the ecological impact.
Efforts to address pollution extend beyond the GPGP. The Ocean Cleanup also implements river-based systems to prevent debris from entering ocean waters, which may be more manageable and financially viable for local governments. Cleaning a visible river can yield quicker, more tangible environmental victories compared to tackling the vast and abstract GPGP.
Sainte-Rose sums up the challenge succinctly: “The problem is shared by everyone, yet no one feels directly responsible.”
Source
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