The
Ocean in Focus
Marine debris in the Philippines and Indonesia
"You wouldn't think you could kill an ocean, would you? But we'll do it one day. That's how negligent we are."
- Ian Rankin
Marine Debris
One of the most serious environmental issues confronting the world today, threatening underwater and coastal ecosystems as well as human health. Such negative effects include coral reef damage, entanglement or drowning of ocean wildlife, and starvation in animals that ingest small plastic particles by mistake. Medical waste, sharp objects, and large pieces of trash can all endanger humans.
What makes up marine debris?
Massive amounts of plastics, metals, rubber, paper, and textiles, as well as derelict fishing gear, derelict vessels, and other lost or discarded items, make up marine debris. Plastic debris is now the most abundant type of litter in the ocean, accounting for 80 percent of all marine debris discovered from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Our oceans are estimated to contain 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic, and this plastic waste poses a serious threat to all marine life. Fish, turtles, and seabirds eat microplastics mistaken for food after becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets. Every year, millions of animals die as a result of their consumption of these products.
Sources: IUCN, NOAA, Condor Ferries
Plastic debris floating near the ocean surface off Bali, Indonesia.
Photograph from iStock.
Aside from plastics, there are numerous other types of litter that can end up in the ocean. The top ten most common items polluting the ocean are:
How does plastic and litter end up in our oceans?
The majority of the plastic in our oceans originates on land: by weight, 70 to 80 percent is plastic transported from land to sea via rivers or coastlines. The remaining 20% to 30% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, lines, ropes, and abandoned vessels. The majority of the world's largest emitting rivers are in Asia, with a few in East Africa and the Caribbean as well. The chart below shows the top ten rivers contributing to plastic debris in our oceans. The Philippines has seven of the top ten rivers. Two of them are in India, and one is in Malaysia. The Philippines' Pasig River alone accounts for 6.4 percent of global river plastics.
Sources: Our World in Data, Condor Ferries
Which countries contribute the most marine debris?
Asia accounts for 81% of global plastic inputs to the ocean.
Africa accounted for 8%, South America for 5.5%, North America for 4.5%, and Europe and Oceania combined accounted for less than 1%.
Globally, Indonesia is the second largest contributor to marine plastic litter after China, with an annual leakage of 0.48-1.29 million tonnes, accounting for 10% of global marine pollution.
In terms of mismanaged plastic waste, four rivers in Indonesia (Brantas, Solo, Serayu, and Progo) are among the top 20 most polluted in the world. According to reports, the majority of the plastic waste comes from rivers and streams, primarily in Java and Sumatra, as well as popular tourist islands.
Meanwhile, the Philippines ranks third in terms of marine plastic pollution, with 0.28-0.75 million tonnes of plastic entering the oceans each year. It's not surprising given that it's home to seven of the top ten rivers. This is due to the fact that the Philippines is made up of many small islands, with the majority of the population living near the coast.
The Philippines generates an estimated 43,684 tonnes of garbage per day, including 4,609 tonnes of plastic waste, and poor waste management causes trash to pile up on land, clog coastlines, and spill into the sea.
Sources: Statista, Our World in Data, Condor Ferries, SEA Circular Indonesia, SEA Circular Philippines
What are the effects of Covid-19 to marine pollution?
Every year, approximately eight million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans in the pre-covid-19 scenario. Every minute, one garbage truck's worth of plastic is dumped into our oceans.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have resulted in the use of 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves globally each month. The increased demand for and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has contributed to increased pollution. Cities like Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, and Bangkok saw a near-doubling of medical waste, producing 154 to 280 tons more per day than before the pandemic.
Apart from increased medical waste, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of the world's waste management systems. More than 80% of the recycling value chain in Vietnam, the Philippines, and India has been halted due to lockdowns. By April 2020, more than 45 percent of recycling facilities in the United Kingdom had experienced operational disruptions as a result of the pandemic response.
Due to the overcrowding of land dumping sites, the race to produce exponentially more personal protective equipment (PPE) resulted in environmental collateral damage, particularly to the ocean. The practical issue with gloves and masks making their way into our rivers and oceans is that they are easily mistaken for jellyfish, which are a favorite food of sea turtles. Masks pose an increased risk of entanglement for a wide range of fish, animals, and birds due to their elastic components. This impact emphasizes the critical need to invest in the waste management industry in order to turn this crisis into a growth opportunity and support the lives and livelihoods that rely on its long-term viability.
Sources: Scientific American, GeenBiz
