Opinion

Guest Essay

The Growing Plastic Sea

Nov 2, 2021

Jack Dorsey
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By 2050 it is predicted that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Our
ocean is being filled with plastic. Every year almost 12 million tons of plastic are dumped
into the ocean. These plastics degrade slowly and will stick around for hundreds or even
thousands of years. Plastic that will be a problem long after we die, it will outlast us, but
hopefully not the ocean ecosystems it resides in.

Plastic waste is suffocating ocean

ecosystems. Take the Laysan Albatross on
Midway Atoll. These incredible birds have a
wingspan of over six feet, fly vast distances
without ever flapping their wings, can go
years without ever touching the ground, and
live for almost 50 years. Unfortunately, these
birds are eating the plastic waste that we
dump into their environment. This plastic,
that will outlast their dead skeletons, is
killing them. Many birds like the Laysan
Albatross are unable to distinguish between
Jordan, Chris: Midway
plastic and food. The adults regurgitate our

plastic to their chicks, who are unable to

remove it. The plastic then fills their
stomachs making them feel full, when they
have nothing but bottle caps and lighters
inside. These majestic animals starve to death
eating our waste.

The Laysan Albatross isn’t the only animal affected though; it is estimated that
over 700 species of ocean wildlife are directly affected by plastic pollution. For instance,
through derelict fishing gear continuing to “ghost fish” without the control of a
fisherman. This fishing gear makes up almost 10% of plastic waste in the ocean and is
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some of the most harmful. As these abandoned gill nets, traplines and drift nets continue
to fish long after they have been abandoned.

Plastics have long reached every corner of the ocean even reaching places humans
have never seen. The most common type of plastic in the ocean is microplastics.
Microplastics are plastics under 10mm in size, so small we can’t even see them.
Microplastics travel everywhere and have even been found at the bottom of the ocean
buried in sand. These microplastics are formed when larger pieces of plastic break down
chemically though oxidation and the Sun. Small bits of plastic are often more harmful
than larger chunks as they are easily ingested, and they travel everywhere.

They have even infiltrated our food. We can ingest anywhere from a dozen to
several thousand specks of plastic every day. The harm that microplastics cause is
unknown. However, everyday our exposure to these plastics grows larger. As we produce
more plastic we put more plastics into our own bodies, possibly causing massive harm in
the future. The most worrisome is the smallest plastics, called nano plastics. Nano
plastics can infiltrate into our cells, and potentially disrupt vital biological processes, like
cell replication. And these plastics are not limited to the ocean, many remain on land and
harm the natural environment there. For example microplastics in the soil have been
found to be killing and disrupting the critical organisms responsible for vital ecological
processes there.

Every day we touch, use, or throw away plastics. It is an absolute constant today.
I am not advocating getting rid of all plastic, merely reducing our waste, and preserving
the world around us. I believe that we must work to preserve our natural environment. It
is noted that nature has many important health benefits. It is helpful in reducing stress
and making us happier. The ocean is an extension of that, going to the beach, swimming,
and snorkeling all can make us happy. Destroying this important and vital natural
resource would be detrimental to us.

Plastics also have many benefits, such as being sterile, clean, and cheap. This has
allowed plastic to become ubiquitous in our daily life. Plastic is an incredible invention
that is extremely beneficial towards humanity. However, we are producing too much
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plastic. There are many new and emerging biodegradable plastics that allow us to recycle
and dispose of plastics more effectively, cutting down on waste. These plastics can be
composted with the food they are thrown away with. Allowing us to avoid recycling,
which is a time consuming and money intensive process. It would also keep plastics out
of the ocean as the plastics that would never break down in our lifetime, break down
safely in 3-4 years. This incredible new technology can allow us to thrive while still
preserving our environment.
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a growing issue that will only get worse. I believe
that we need to take immediate action to reduce our plastic waste to save our oceans.
The solutions are out there, we just need to implement them.

Plastic can be a step forward in creating a more environmentally friendly world. We

just need to change how we interact with them. We need to make less, throw less away,
and overall cut down on what we use. Plastic has incredibly beneficial properties and can
be produced using byproducts of petroleum. We need to change our mindset as a society
and stop using plastic as a consumable it should be treated like aluminum or steel.
Something that you keep and use repeatedly. We can develop and use other materials as
consumable such as biodegradable plastics and plant-based alternatives. Plastic has its
place in the world and by turning the tide on how we interact with it we can stride forward
into a more sustainable future.

Reflection:
The reason I chose to revise my Op-Ed was largely due to the fact that I felt it had
a lot of potential to be improved. I felt that I had left a lot on the floor so to speak. One
thing that I really wanted to address was being more assertive in this revision. I should
avoid using “I believe…” type statements and instead just state it. Another larger piece
that I wanted to alter was the entire impetus behind the piece. The thing I wanted to alter
it to be a more hopeful ending with a clear direction on what to do. I also wanted to
express a different approach to this environmental crisis. Instead of being all gloom and
doom like I was before I gave a clearer direction that the reader could take away. I also
feel like that these fits better with my audience as compared to before. My original
version was very much preaching to the choir and brought nothing new or unique to the
New Yor Times. I instead adjusted my essay to provide a newer and less seen perspective
on this issue.
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Bibliography

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Eriksen, Marcus. “Opinion | I Thought I'd Seen It All Studying Plastics. Then My Team
Found 2,000 Bags in a Camel.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 24 Mar. 2021,
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Jordan, Chris. “Albatross Film Trailer - YouTube.” Youtube, Missoula Current , 12 Apr.
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Lebreton, Laurent. “The Quest to Find the Missing Plastic.” The Ocean Cleanup, The
Ocean Cleanup, 10 Oct. 2021, https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/the-quest-
tofind-the-missing-plastic/.
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Lim, XiaoZhi. “Microplastics Are Everywhere - but Are They Harmful?” Nature News,
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“Marine Debris.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Nov. 2021,

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National Museum of Natural History. “Laysan Albatrosses' Plastic Problem.” Laysan

Albatrosses' Plastic Problem, Smithsonian , 14 May 2018,
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Oaks, Kelly. “Why Biodegradables Won't Solve the Plastic Crisis.” BBC Future, BBC, 5
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Robbins , Jim, et al. “Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health.”
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“Why Is Marine Debris a Problem?” NOAA Marine Debris Program, NOAA, 1 Nov. 2021,
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debrisproblem.
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