Quinn Hodges

Marine Bio
October 29, 2021
Plastics
Plastic pollution is causing major impacts on marine ecosystems, economics, and human
health. Due to its lightweight and durability, plastic has become the most common widespread of
marine litter (Wright et al., 2013). Within these ecosystems, the problems effect a wide range of
species including microbiota, invertebrate, and vertebrate species. Preventing the pollution is
very tough due to increasing population, industries, and human litter behaviors. Since this a
global problem, coming to a solution is very hard, but there are some resolutions that have been
established to prevent this problem.
One issue plastic pollution causes problems to, is economics. Plastic production has
increased from 1.5 million tons in the 1950s to approximately 280 million tons in 2011 (Plastics
Europe, 2012 cited in Wright, 2013). The more plastic produced will increase the amount of
pollution, and coastal areas that contain a lot of industries have been identified as “microplastic
hotspots” (Wright et al., 2013). Marine debris also cause major effects on tourism revenue. In
Los Angeles, marine debris has the high cost of $68 million annually from lost tourism revenue
(Legget, 2014 cited in Wright, 2013). Although this issue is very expensive, there are some
economic benefits. Benefits include reducing disposal cost by recycling, being able to reuse
recycled material, and creating jobs (Schuyler et al., 2018).
Effects on marine life from plastic varies. Species such as sea turtles and sea birds are
often entangled with marine debris, but fish often ingest micro-sized plastics that are confused as
food (Haward, 2018). The plastic pollution varies from rope, waste, fishing gear, nets from boats,
to land based sources such as street litter, illegal dumping, packaging, and production waste
(Haward, 2018). Planktivorous fish (fish that feed on zooplankton and phytoplankton) often
ingest microplastics that are similar in color and size to their prey (Ory et al., 2018). The
Galapagos shark was reported to have a plastic entanglement around its gill region in the waters
of Rapa Nui. The plastic “collar” was reported to critically damage tissues which affects feeding
and breathing, along with body deformations as it grows (Wegner and Cartamil, 2012 cited from
Thiel et al., 2018). Items that are frequently found in sea turtles include variety of plastic pieces,
fishing nets/lines, and plastic bags (Brito, 2001; Guerra-Correa et al., 2007; IMARPE, 2011;
Jimenez et al., 2017 cited from Theil et al., 2018). In Ecuador and Chile, many suggest that
plastic ingestion has been then origin of death to stranded turtles (Brito et al., 2007; Silva et al.,
2007; Aleman, 2014). Seabirds are often affected by entanglement in items such as discarded
fishing line and nets, plastic bags, and other floating marine litter. Body injuries, behavioral
effects, and mortality are common consequences of seabird entanglement (Theil et al., 2011).
The methods to prevent marine pollution vary, and since this is a global problem, many
countries disagree on a direct solution that can occur worldwide. The most effective way to
prevent marine debris is establishing container deposit legislation (CDL), which is adding a price
on beverage container (usually 5 or 10 cents) which then can be returned to get your money back
and ensure recycling happens (Schuyler et al., 2018). In Michigan (my home), it is the only state
with a 10-cent container return redemption. From personal experience, traveling to other states
where a CDL is not in effect, I’ve witnessed others just throw away their bottles and cans, which
really bothers me. Having a CDL also benefits the homeless/people in need and the environment
by giving them a source of income while picking litter. Currently in the US, ten of fifty states
have a form of CDL. Every state but Michigan has a 5-cent redemption, which can explain why
Michigan has the highest return rate compared to all the other states with a CDL (Schuyler et al.,
2018). Two other solutions include reducing amounts of trash put into landfills or increasing the
number of reusable containers. The other solution is reducing litter and increasing recycling rates
(Schuyler et al., 2018). These methods are a lot easier to say then to do, which is why CDL is the
most effective solution.
In conclusion, plastic pollution is drastically increasing overtime causing major effects on
marine ecosystems. This problem effects species of all kinds, since there is micro-plastic and
macro-plastic pollution. Preventing this issue is very tough due to careless efforts from fisheries,
industries, and human littering. Coming to a global solution is also very hard due to
disagreements, but local solutions such as CDL will help lower the plastic pollution rates.

Works Cited
1. Wright, Thompson, Galloway. 2013. The physical impacts of microplastics on marine
organisms. Environmental Pollution. 178(2013) : pages 483-492
2. Haward. 2018. Plastic pollutions of the world’s seas and oceans as a contemporary
challenge in ocean goverance. Nature Communications. 9(667) pages: 1-3
3. Schuyler, Hardesty, Lawson, Opie, Wilcox. 2018. Economic incentives reduce plastic
inputs to the ocean. Marine Policy. 96(2018) pages: 250-255
4. Theil, Luna-Jorquera, Alvares-Varas, Gallardo, Hinojosa, Luna, Miranda-Urbina,
Morales, Ory, Pacheco, Portflitt-Toro, Zavalaga. 2018. Impacts of Marine Plastic
Pollution from Continental Coasts to Subtropical Gyre-Fish, Seabirds, and Other
Vertebrates in the SE Pacific. Frontiers in Marine Science. 5(238) pages: 1-16