Garbage dumpyard in Pacific Ocean is getting bigger and bigger

This exponential increase poses a significant threat to the local ecosystem and potentially the global carbon cycle.

In Short

• The research team analyzed data from 917 manta trawl samples
• Their findings show significant increases in all sizes of floating plastics
• This proliferation of plastic debris now surpasses the volume of living organisms in the region

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals a disturbing trend in the North Pacific Garbage Patch (NPGP): centimeter-sized plastic fragments are accumulating at an alarming rate, outpacing the growth of larger plastic debris.

This exponential increase poses a significant threat to the local ecosystem and potentially the global carbon cycle.

The research, conducted by The Ocean Cleanup between 2015 and 2022, found that plastic fragments in the NPGP rose from 2.9kg per square km to 14.2kg per square km in just seven years.

More alarmingly, small debris hotspots increased from 1 million per square km in 2015 to over 10 million per square km in 2022.

Lead author Laurent Lebreton attributes this surge to decades of inadequate plastic waste management globally. The study suggests that 74-96% of these fragments originate from foreign sources, indicating a widespread problem of plastic pollution.

The research team analysed data from 917 manta trawl samples, 162 mega trawl samples, 74 aerial surveys, and 40 cleanup system extractions across 50 expeditions. Their findings show significant increases in all sizes of floating plastics, from microplastics to macroplastics.

This proliferation of plastic debris now surpasses the volume of living organisms in the region, threatening marine life through ingestion and entanglement. Moreover, the presence of microplastics may be affecting zooplankton grazing, potentially impacting the global carbon cycle.

The study also highlights an emerging ecological issue: endemic marine species are now competing with new species that have colonised the floating plastic debris.

Lebreton emphasizes the urgent need for global action, calling on lawmakers to prioritize ending plastic pollution. While upstream prevention is crucial, the researchers stress the importance of removing existing plastics from marine environments to mitigate the ongoing generation of smaller fragments.

This study serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impacts of plastic pollution and the critical need for immediate, coordinated global efforts to address this escalating environmental crisis.