Focus: the BBC investigates the problem of plastic in our oceans

For full programme, visit www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bmbn47/drowning-in-plastic; available 'til 30th Oct 2018

A discarded plastic bottle sits among a coral reef

The amount of plastic entering our planet’s oceans and waterways has now reached an alarming level. Every minute, our insatiable appetite for plastic causes us to consume 1 million plastic bottles, 1 million disposable plastic cups, and 2 million plastic bags, the waste of which adds up to 8 million tonnes that enters our oceans every year.  Only 11% of plastic in the world is currently recycled, and it is predicted that annual plastic production will have increased by 500% by 2050. With 2 billion people still lacking proper waste disposal facilities, it is easy to see why plastic is now becoming a huge problem in our world.

The ‘Drowning in plastic’ documentary features a visit to the flesh-footed sheerwater birds who migrate to Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea each year to lay their eggs in burrows.  These birds are known to be some of the most prolific plastic-eating animals, and scientists have been studying the impact of this behavior on the birds for some time.  What they have found is that instead of nurturing the chicks ready for life in the wild, the parents of the chicks instead fill their young’s stomachs with plastic lumps, often including items such as bottle caps and pen lids. On average, the chicks can have around 20 pieces of plastic in their stomachs, but scientists have sometimes observed up to 30 or 40 pieces in a single bird’s stomach.  The result is that the birds cannot fly or swim, and instead become stranded on the beach, inevitably resulting in death as malnutrition takes over. Further research is needed to understand why some animals eat plastic; over 200 marine species are known to eat plastic, and it is thought that many often mistake it for fish eggs or jellyfish, or are attracted to the smell of algae that grows on it.

Another crisis is occurring in Indonesia, where plastic is also a problem but on a totally different scale. The main culprits are tiny plastic sachets that hold small amounts of soap, coffee, soup etc. These are widely sold because they are a cheap and quick alternative to buying large volumes of products, and many environmentalists blame large corporations for encouraging the sale of these sachets in poorer nations without considering the environmental impact. Much of the plastic in Indonesia (and indeed around the world) enters the oceans via our rivers; historically, rivers have always been used as natural waste outlets, but this wasn’t a problem when waste was always made up of non-plastic materials. It is now clear to see, however, that in some parts of Indonesia’s Citarum River, the waterway is being choked to death by floating plastic. Around 2,000 tonnes of plastic travels down this river each day, causing plastic ‘bergs’ to pile up which become lodged in the river; these only dislodge during heavy rains at which point the volume of plastic becomes inconceivable.  Plastic stretches up the river for a mile and extends from one side of the river to the other. Local people used to make a living from fishing here, but fish stocks have reduced by 60% and now locals fish for plastic and sell it to make a living instead.  A local environmental campaigner describes how the riverbanks have become landfill sites, not through choice, but as a result of no alternatives for waste disposal from the government. 

A further problem is occurring on the coast of New England (USA) as a result of the fishing industry which uses large amounts of hard-wearing plastic rope. Time after time, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) are having to rescue marine animals that have been caught up in plastic fishing rope, often because the lines have become wrapped around their heads causing deep lacerations in their necks, resulting in a slow and painful death. It is thought that around 300,000 marine mammals and 400,000 sea birds are entangled in plastic every year. Whales are particularly vulnerable as they migrate large distances, often through fishing areas. Fishing bans have been introduced during peak migration times, but this causes controversy as local fisherman rely on fishing in the area to provide for themselves, their workers, and their families. It is reckoned that around half to two thirds of whales will have been entangled in plastic rope at some point in their lifetimes. 

Equally concerning is the damage being done to an area known as the coral triangle (around 2.3 million square miles in size) in Oceania, which is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, providing food, homes, and breeding grounds for all kinds of tropical wildlife. Not only are rising temperatures from global warming causing coral reefs to die, but plastic is now being found hidden in amongst the coral. This plastic is shown to carry harmful pathogens (bacteria and viruses) which can transmit diseases to the coral destroying the coral tissue; this could also be a health threat to humans. 

The final visit is to the Arctic where, most alarmingly of all, micro-plastics are being found at almost every turn.  It had been thought that remote places such as the Arctic would be safe from plastic pollution, but ocean currents are carrying these tiny pieces of plastic further and further until even the distant parts of our planet are contaminated. These micro-plastics often come from sources such as micro-beads found in face washes and toothpaste, and micro-fibres from synthetic clothing which are washed into waterways. Micro-plastics are easily ingested by the tiniest organisms, and can quickly work their way up the food chain, bio-accumulating within large marine organisms such a walruses. 

The outlook, however, is not without some hope.  A number of ground-breaking technologies and inspirational individuals are beginning to work to make a difference.  Systems for filtering rubbish have been trialed and shown to work on a small scale.  The ‘Seabin’ traps litter in the water and removes it out of harms way.  ‘Mr Trash Wheel’ is a similar example that uses solar power to turn a wheel and retrieve larger volumes of plastic from harbours and ports.  Another system uses air bubbles to help float rubbish to the surface before being collected.  A young engineer is also attempting to construct a giant 600m-long floating tube with a 3m suspended curtain beneath to sweep through the world’s oceans.  This is an ambitious strategy but, if successful, would make a significant difference to removing plastic.  

Most of these strategies focus around removing plastic waste, but what about stopping plastic reaching the water in the first place?  Corporations are beginning to pledge to create more sustainable options by 2025, but some fear this is too late and that the amount of plastic entering our oceans may have doubled by then.  Natural solutions may be the answer. Changing the material we use from plastic to other materials could be an important step.  An Indonesian engineer is pioneering using seaweed to make anything from soap wrappers to fast food packaging to edible cups.  This could solve Indonesia’s problem of using vast quantities of plastic sachets every day. Another solution could lie in sea grass meadows. Planting sea grass before coral reefs could help trap plastic and to stop it reaching the coral; sea grasses are also known to have antibacterial properties, which could destroy the harmful pathogens that sit on the plastic. Sea grasses can grow all over the world and may play a very important role in protecting our marine ecosystems. 

Whatever the answer, the undeniable fact is that we are swamped with plastic, and our usage is still increasing. Plastic is one of the most durable materials on the planet.  It takes thousands of years to break down, and much of the plastic that has ever entered our oceans is still there. Do we really want a future where there are more pieces of plastic in our oceans than there are fish? 

To learn more, visit www.bbc.com/plasticsaction to find out what steps you can take to fight against plastic.

(Article content credited to the BBC).