http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/marinedebris.html
You've probably heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a huge patch of debris in the Pacific Ocean. In 2001, there were over 334,000 pieces of plastic per square mile in the Garbage Patch, and that number has only gone up since then. Trash in our oceans is a huge problem. 80% of marine debris comes from land, so we are to blame, not the fishing industry. California beaches are visited over 150 million times a year, and it costs some half a billion dollars to keep litter in check. Marine debris affects almost 700 marine species by disrupting their habitats, entangling them, and by the species eating trash. We are also affected, because trash on beaches like glass can physically injure us and chemicals in trash in the ocean can be harmful to us. When fish eat trash or poisonous chemicals, and we eat the fish, we can get sick. We need to decrease our trash and litter to save our oceans, beaches, ourselves, and wildlife.
This reminds me of Finding Nemo! Haha... But this topic is DEFINITELY a big deal and should be considered like so. It's really sad how humans have been polluting this planet for a while now, and it doesn't just affect the planet. This problem is affecting us too! Great topic choice! (Also... I like your name (: )
ReplyDeleteI found it crazy how large the numbers actually are. I feel like almost everybody understands that water pollution is a problem, but its weird how we don't all realize how big this problem actually is. I also find it interesting on how the author of this article incorporated us and how we are affected. Lots of times pollution is caused by us, but it is rare to see how we are affected in articles like these. I wonder if we are going to ever be able to clean the ocean faster than we pollute it.
ReplyDeleteThis really is a big deal. This problem could effect thousands of people and tons are ignoring it. What are people doing about this? People can't stop pushing this aside they really need to do something about it.
ReplyDeleteEmma Mac-MA
I lived in San Francisco for 5 years (2001-2006) and I have been to many of California's beaches. I never realized how much pollution there is in the oceans. Reading the article, I saw that A LOT of animals are affected just by plastic in the oceans (56% of cetacean species; 95% of Northern Fulmars; (97.6% of bird carcasses etc.). It makes me wonder, how long will it be before we are made of plastic too?
ReplyDelete