Our oceans are facing widespread pollution, and it’s no secret. But you might not realize just how polluted they actually are. The scale of ocean pollution can be shocking and incredibly upsetting, especially for ocean lovers (which we all should be!).
Below, we’ve included 13 dirty facts about ocean pollution. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We’ve also included ways you can get directly involved in improving the situation our oceans face, as well as ideas for encouraging others to do the same.
Keep scrolling for 13 facts about ocean pollution.
1. 100,000 Animals Die Annually From Entanglement
It is estimated that plastic pollution kills approximately 100,000 marine animals every year. Discarded fishing nets and other plastic debris, including plastic bags, straws and plastic wrap, cause many of these deaths.
2. Over 5.25 Trillion Pieces of Plastic Trash Are in Our Oceans
According to National Geographic, an astounding 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic are estimated to be in our oceans. To put that number into perspective, there are just over 8 billion people on Planet Earth.
3. There Is an Ocean Garbage Patch Twice the Size of Texas
In the Pacific Ocean, you’ll encounter the world’s largest accumulation of ocean plastic — the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Currents create a continuous vortex (the Pacific Gyre), accumulating litter in this 1,200-mile (1,931 km) stretch of ocean. Covering an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers (618,000 square miles), the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is roughly twice the size of Texas.
4. Human Activity Has Created Ocean ‘Dead Zones’
Ocean dead zones, also termed hypoxic areas, are places in which oxygen levels are so low that many marine organisms cannot survive. Although dead zones can occur naturally, human activity (particularly nutrient pollution) has resulted in more areas suffering from these conditions.
5. Plastic Pollution Has Been Found in the Mariana Trench
The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean, reaching 11,034 meters (36,201 feet) in depth. However, that depth is not exempt from ocean pollution. Scientists have studied crustaceans in the Mariana Trench and found that they had ingested plastic.
6. Plastic in the Ocean Could Cover the Earth 400 Times
Our Earth, with a radius of approximately 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles), could be covered as many as 400 times by the plastic found floating in our oceans.
7. Many Countries Are Trying to Offload Their Ocean Pollution
It’s safe to say that no country is exempt from ocean pollution. However, waste is often transported across international borders for recycling or disposal, meaning the impacts of waste aren’t always confined to the country where it was originally produced.
8. Single-Use Plastic is the Biggest Offender
Single-use plastics are among the most common types of plastic found in the oceans. This includes items like straws, takeaway cups and plastic silverware.
9. 80% of Ocean Trash Is From Land Activity
You may think that the majority of the ocean pollution problem comes from fishing and water-based activities polluting the waterways. However, it’s estimated that around 20% of plastic entering the ocean comes from marine sources. The other 80% is from land-based human activities via rivers and coastlines. Think garbage disposal, littering and food industries.
10. Rising Ocean Acidity Is Also an Issue
People don’t often associate air pollution with ocean pollution. However, the two actually go hand-in-hand. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and the ocean absorbs some of it. This can affect the pH level of the ocean’s surface and contribute to ocean acidification.
11. Over 8 Million Tonnes of Plastic Enter the Ocean Yearly
Eight million is a hefty number to come to terms with, yet this is the reality of the state of plastic pollution in the ocean. According to National Geographic, the plastic entering the ocean yearly is equivalent to “five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.” In addition, because plastic is highly resistant to natural degradation, it can remain in the ocean for decades or even centuries.
12. Marine Life Can Die From Plastic Ingestion
Some marine species mistake the plastic floating around as food and ingest it. These animals cannot properly digest plastic, and ingesting it can cause blockages, internal injuries and, unfortunately, death. Additionally, sunlight and heat can break down plastic into smaller particles called microplastics. Marine life may be even more likely to consume these particles and can also encounter chemicals associated with the plastic.
13. Plastic May Outweigh Fish
At present, the human race dumps around 12 million metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean each year. If this dangerous trend continues, plastic in the ocean could outweigh fish by 2050, further disrupting the ocean’s natural balance. This projection highlights just how much the ocean could suffer from humanity’s continued actions.
How You Can Help Fight Ocean Pollution
One of the most effective ways we can all help to reduce ocean pollution is by becoming ambassadors for the oceans. In learning to dive, you come into direct contact with the underwater world, allowing you to see the effects of pollution and take action to help protect it. Sharing your experiences can also inspire more ocean lovers to take action for the world they love.
Begin your PADI Open Water Diver Course online with eLearning™.
What Can Divers Do?
After becoming a certified diver, there are endless ways you can help combat ocean pollution, both above and below the surface.
- Participate in Dives Against Debris ( Learn more: What is Dive Against Debris?)
- Become a Torchbearer for the ocean
- Become a Dive Against Debris Speciality Instructor
- Educate friends and family on ocean pollution
- Encourage others to learn to dive
We all have a role to play in protecting our oceans. By taking action today, we can help create a healthier future for our oceans, marine life and generations to come. And the time to act is now!