Will Ocean Plastic Outweigh Fish?
If plastic trash keeps growing at the same pace, it will outweigh fish in the ocean.
This was the sad projection in a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
Ellen MacArthur learned more about the problem first hand during her record breaking solo sailing circumnavigation of the globe in 2005.
According to research done by her foundation, most plastic packaging is used only once and much of it then finds its way into the ocean.
The study estimated that one garbage truck’s worth of plastic is being dumped into the sea every minute and that, if no action is taken, the pace of this plastic ocean pollution is expected to increase to two per minute by 2030 and four truck’s worth of trash per minute by 2050.
If this happens, plastic will outweigh fish!
The graphs below highlight how significant this problem might become.
How can well all help?
First, take notice. Don’t just walk by trash on the beach.
As we have written about many times on this site, plastic doesn’t just look bad, it kills marine wildlife (for more click here).
Next, consider supporting organizations such as the following:
If you are interested in innovative start-ups, check out a new, socially-innovative company, Plastic Bank, and their brand Social Plastic. They are monetizing plastic trash in impoverished areas, where in some cases the problem is most acute.
To learn more please read Trash to Cash, which talks about how Plastic Bank is making it harder to walk by that plastic bottle on the beach.
As the warm weather returns, my family – like yours, I’m sure – will be spending more on the water or at the shore.
We will start writing more about our experiences and hope that you will all spread the word and help keep our oceans clean!
For more on Clean Up Oceans and links to organizations that you can support, please click the following or contact Preston McSwain directly.