Date: 19/04/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Key Phrases: Kuroshio (warm), North Pacific (warm), North Equatorial (warm) and California (cold) currents, North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, neopelagic community, Microplastics, marine wildlife.

Context:

• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast area in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, located just north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean, where trash from 51 Pacific Rim countries has been collected over the years.

Key Highlights:

• It is estimated to be 1.6 million sq. km big and more than 50 years old, containing an estimated 45,000-1,29,000 metric tonnes of plastic, predominantly in the form of microplastics.
• A new study by researchers from Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S. has reported that coastal lifeforms have colonized plastic items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, forming a new kind of "standing coastal community in the open ocean" named the neopelagic community.
• The researchers collected 105 pieces of plastic debris from the eastern part of the NPSG, "the most heavily plastic-polluted ocean gyre on the globe," and found that 98% of the debris items had invertebrate organisms, with pelagic species present on 94.3% of them and coastal species on 70.5%.
• They found organisms belonging to 46 taxa, and 37 of them were coastal; the rest were pelagic.
• The coastal species were most commonly found on fishing nets, while the pelagic species were on crates.
• Most taxa were of Northwest Pacific origin, including Japan, with eight items from East Asia and five specifically from Japan.

Factors contributing to the formation and persistence of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

• Ocean currents: The North Pacific Gyre, a circular ocean current, traps and accumulates plastic debris, leading to the formation of the garbage patch.
• Human activities: The primary source of plastic debris in the ocean is human activities, such as improper disposal of plastic products, littering, and ocean dumping.
• Lack of proper waste management: Inadequate waste management infrastructure and practices contribute to the accumulation of plastic debris in the ocean.
• Microplastics: Microplastics, which are small plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size, also contribute to the formation of the garbage patch. These microplastics come from various sources, including cosmetics, cleaning products, and synthetic fibers.

Potential consequences of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has severe consequences for the environment, wildlife, and human health. Some of the potential consequences include:
• Environmental degradation: The accumulation of plastic debris in the ocean leads to the degradation of the marine ecosystem and its biodiversity.
• Harm to marine wildlife: Marine animals, including fish, seabirds, and turtles, mistake plastic debris for food or become entangled in plastic waste, leading to injury or death.
• Health risks: Plastic debris in the ocean can release toxic chemicals and harm human health through the food chain.

Measures to mitigate the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch:

• Mitigating the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch requires a collaborative effort from individuals, businesses, and governments at the national and international levels.
• Reducing plastic use: Individuals and businesses can reduce their plastic use by adopting eco-friendly alternatives, such as reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
• Proper waste management: Governments can improve waste management infrastructure and practices, including recycling, composting, and reducing plastic waste.
• International cooperation: International organizations and governments can collaborate to develop and enforce regulations to reduce plastic waste, such as banning single-use plastics and enforcing ocean dumping laws.
• Public education and awareness: Educating the public about the environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste can encourage behavior change and support the adoption of sustainable practices.

Conclusion:

• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a significant environmental problem that requires immediate action to mitigate its consequences.
• The factors contributing to the formation and persistence of the garbage patch are primarily human activities, including improper waste management and excessive plastic use.
• The consequences of the garbage patch are severe and include environmental degradation, harm to marine wildlife, and health risks.
• To address this problem, individuals, businesses, and governments must collaborate to reduce plastic waste through measures such as reducing plastic use, improving waste management practices, international cooperation, and public education and awareness.

Source: The Hindu

Mains Question:

Q. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast expanse of plastic debris in the North Pacific Ocean, is one of the most visible and alarming manifestations of human impact on the environment. What are the factors that contribute to the formation and persistence of this garbage patch, and what are the potential consequences of its continued growth? (250 Words).