The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Plastic Wasteland

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Recommended: ocean pollution impacts on the ecosystem

A large amount of plastic in the water is hurting marine life and distorting the ecosystem to the extent of having dead animals. The ocean is the most important body of water that the Earth has and, if it’s polluted, then we will have a global catastrophe. The sea pollution is at an all-time high and it needs to end. Animal corpses litter the ocean floor because of the pollution. The sea is not our personal garbage dump. We need to take a stand to help change this.
Debris that pollutes the ocean is killing many living organisms. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a huge area where thousands among thousands of plastic, chemical sludge and other debris float around polluting beaches and trapping wildlife in the midst of its journey. The size of the patch is particularly unknown although there has been some estimates of its size including media reports that say, “Twice the size of the continental United States,” The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, (A.K.A. The Sea Life Killer) was formed simply by marine pollution and currents flowing through the ocean. We are the ones killing the ocean. The patch is an existence because of our selfish polluting habits. Every year cargo ships throw trash overboard and pollute the sea; therefore hurting marine habitats and to an extension, marine life. Thousands of cargo containers fall overboard in stormy seas each year, spilling their contents. One ship heading from Los Angeles to Tacoma, Wash., disgorged 33,000 blue-and-white Nike basketball shoes in 2002. (Weiss) The ocean is part of our ecosystem and it shouldn’t be treated as if it were a garbage dump.
Sea life has been endangered since the early days of the human race. Ever since humans realized that fish were edible, oceans have been in danger o...

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...n policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter. Also if you are boating, kayaking, canoeing, or doing any traveling activity, do not throw trash overboard and be a responsible traveler. Lastly, educate yourself about marine life and marine habitats because all life on Earth is connected through the ocean.
All in all, we need to protect our ocean from pollution so that we can have a water source. Without the ocean, we wouldn’t survive in the world. We need to stop littering and clean the beaches of filth. Our marine ecosystems are being endangered and we need to put a stop to it.

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