Text 1 - Plastic Pollution of the World’s Seas and Oceans

Minimizing plastic marine pollution is important if we want to protect the world’s

oceans

1 Since its commercial development in the 1950s, plastic has been a real
success. Its global production has been growing rapidly. Its success comes
from its remarkable qualities: ease of shaping, low cost, physical strength, etc.
Being the ideal material for packaging, plastic can be found basically
everywhere globally. However, too much plastic in the world is causing
several problems where plastic waste is polluting (i.e. introducing a harmful
material into the environment) global lands and waterways. One of the
reasons that plastic pollution is such a problem is that it does not go away:
plastics are forever. Instead, plastic debris simply breaks down into ever-
smaller parts or particles, known as microplastics, whose negative
environmental effects have already been recognized.

2 The problem of plastic pollution in the world’s seas and oceans has
attracted increasing scientific concern by researchers in diverse academic
disciplines. First, there are five large ocean patches, called “gyres”, in the
world where plastic gathers due to water-current circulation. Plastic in the
ocean has been shown to follow ocean currents which eventually form into
what is known as Great Garbage Patches. For instance, the Indian Ocean
Garbage Patch is estimated to be about five million square kilometers (for
comparison, the territory of the country India is 3.29 million sq. km). In
addition, there have been demands by several representatives for an
international agreement that will address this urgent issue. Reactions to the
problem of marine (sea) plastic pollution will need to involve and link state
and non-state participants, business, and civil society, in an effort to integrate
solutions that move away from the traditional state-based, sector-focused
responses to oceans' issues that are common today. This is called “ocean
governance”, which is about managing and using the world's oceans and
their resources in ways that keep our oceans healthy, productive, and safe.
This paper investigates the serious issue the world faces today of marine
plastic pollution.

Plastic Pollution of the Seas

3 Although most people are aware of the problem of marine pollution,
the challenge in dealing with it shows the difficulty of a multi-sided problem.
Marine pollution is caused by two primary sources – land-based pollution
and marine-based pollution. Marine-oriented pollution, while a part of the
problem, is much less dominant. The sources of such plastics come from
diverse factors, from commercial and recreational ships, fishing, and aqua-
culture operations (rope, waste, fishing gear, nets).

4 In contrast, land-based pollution (4.8–12.7 million metric tons of plastic

annually) begins on land where rainwater and wind carry plastic garbage into
streams and rivers, and through the drains. The drains then lead to the ocean
resulting in marine pollution. In fact, it is estimated that 80% of marine trash
comes from land. Careless and improper waste removal is also a big
contributor – illegal dumping of waste adds greatly to the plastic increase in
the seas. This pollution comes mainly from household waste, which is poorly
recycled, thrown in landfills, or abandoned in nature. Moreover, soil and
water contamination are other negative effects of improper waste disposal in
landfills.

5 The most visible and disturbing effects of

marine plastics are the harmful effects on hundreds of oceanic species. Marine
wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fishes and turtles, mistake plastic waste for
prey or food. Most die of starvation as their stomachs are filled with small bits
of plastic pieces. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals can become
trapped in plastic debris, causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning.
100,000 marine creatures a year die from getting caught in plastic waste –
such as in nets - and these statistics are just from the ones found dead.
Approximately 1 million sea birds also die from plastic. Furthermore, one
plastic bag is so dangerous that it can kill numerous animals. This is because
the plastic bag takes a very long time to disintegrate or break down so that an
animal can eat the plastic and die. But then a scavenger might eat the dead
animal and die as well.

6 Another part of the problem is that plastic pollution of the seas

is understood to be accepted behavior in certain countries and parts of the
world. China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are throwing
more plastic into the oceans than the rest of the world combined, according to
a 2017 report by Ocean Conservancy. However, this is not just an Asian
problem. Plastic is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the
world today. With the largest population, China produced the largest
quantity of plastic, at nearly 60 million tons. This was followed by the United
States at 38 million, Germany at 14.5 million, and Brazil at 12 million tons
(2010).

Issues for Contemporary Ocean Governance

7 Marine pollution has long been recognized as a threat and a primary
target for ongoing developments in ocean governance. One major means to
address and combat this threat has been through the work of international
bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO is the
United Nations organization which is responsible for the safety and security
of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
Its main role is to regulate
the shipping industry in a way that is fair and effective, universally adopted,
and universally implemented. In other words, its role is to create an equal
situation so that ship operators cannot try to save money by simply cutting
corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental
performance. This approach also encourages originality and efficiency.
8 The majority of rules or agreements (called “conventions”) adopted
by IMO usually fall into three main categories - maritime safety, prevention of
marine pollution, and finally, liability (legal responsibility) and compensation
(monetary payment), especially in relation to damage caused by pollution.
The IMO is also responsible for the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/78 (known as MARPOL). The IMO
administrators have also recognized the problem of plastic pollution and
marine litter.

9 MARPOL is the main international convention aimed at the prevention

of pollution from ships due to operational or accidental causes. Ship-sourced
dumping of plastics is prohibited under the MARPOL pact for all boats which
are members of MARPOL in both domestic and international waters. The
enforcement of MARPOL conditions demands strong monitoring, control,
and surveillance systems to make sure that the rules are followed by all ships,
from the smallest fishing boat to large oil supertankers.

Plastic Pollution Prevention

10 Cleaning up the world’s oceans is a very significant first step, but not a
long-term solution. The next important step in dealing with plastic pollution
is to change our mindsets and habits about plastic - this controversial, but
nonetheless, very useful material. To efficiently reduce plastic pollution, the
use of plastic must be decreased. This means changing everyday behaviors
and not using plastic when there is a better alternative to it. In other words,
only use plastic when strictly necessary.

11 The easiest and most direct way to reduce plastic pollution is by

reducing individual use of “single-use” plastics. These include plastic bags,
straws, cups, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used
once and then discarded. In addition, people need to start using re-usable
products such as grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, etc.
Another crucial solution is education in order to increase awareness and bring
about change.

12 Although plastic may cause pollution when poorly managed, it does

have advantages too, such as being strong. Many plastic items can therefore
be reused or used for different purposes. Before throwing away plastic items,
it is important to consider how they can be reused. Plastic recycling consists
of collecting plastic waste and reusing it into new products, to reduce the
amount of plastic in the waste stream. At present, just 9% of plastic is recycled
worldwide.

13 Community action is a necessary part of controlling land-based waste

in order to reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine environment.
Such initiatives include local beach or river clean-ups, supporting the
adoption of anti-plastic bag policies in your municipalities as well as banning
single use plastic bags, takeout containers, and bottles. In addition, initiatives
that focus on recycling and reusing plastics help raise public awareness of the
effects marine plastic pollution.

14 These initiatives add to more globally focused actions at the state level.
Civil society actions influence the economy since changing consumer
demands result in a reduction of the amount and type of plastic that is being
manufactured/produced.
Industry can be encouraged to develop and support codes of conduct in order
to support and strengthen corporate social responsibility. This in turn links
back to appropriate and effective government regulation, particularly in
dealing with the management of single use plastics and tiny plastic particles.

Conclusion: A Way Forward

15 There remains a number of challenges in dealing with the problem of
marine plastic pollution. In late 2017, the United Nations Environment
Assembly resolution on marine plastic pollution was passed with a broad-
based agreement from participating states and non-governmental
organizations. Hopefully, this will provide the incentive for ongoing action to
fight marine plastic pollution. International agreements are not easily
developed and are often criticized in the media. Despite these criticisms, the
international framework for ocean governance and the reduction of marine
plastic pollution continues to evolve. International initiatives addressing
marine plastic pollution need to be supported by strong and focused scientific
research, the engagement of business and community organizations, as well
as engaged and committed government action on different scales, supporting
community-based programs that address the use and disposal of plastics.

Based on Marcus Haward (2018), Nature Communications, volume 9.

(1616 words) B2 CEFR Level
 Exercises - Plastic Pollution of the World’s Seas and
Oceans
Pre-Vocabulary
11. engage 1. marine
12. framework 2. pollution
13. criticism 3. traditional
14. incentive 4. primary
15. controversial 5. target
16. efficiently 6. domestic
17. initiative 7. mindset
18. implement 8. reduce
19. appropriate 9. crucial
20. regulate 10. significant

Global Questions

1. What academic discipline would be interested in this article? (Circle 1)

Business / Sociology / Psychology / Marine Biology /
Criminology

2. What is the topic?

3. What is the main idea of this article?

a. Ocean governance is necessary to keep the world’s oceans safe and
healthy.
b. It is important to reduce plastic pollution in the seas.
c. There are many advantages of using plastic in the marine environment.
d. International agreements are necessary to integrate solutions.

4. What is the purpose of this article?

To…
a. investigate ocean governance in the world’s oceans and seas & how it
relates to plastic.
b. raise public awareness of the need to increase the amount of plastic in
the oceans.
c. investigate how plastic has changed our world both positively and
negatively.
d. raise public awareness of the need to decrease the amount of plastic in
the oceans.

5. One of the issues raised concerns how the oceans are controlled. What are
the other 2 issues discussed?
a.
b.
6. What is the author’s opinion about plastic marine pollution?
He is (circle 1) for/against/neutral towards it.

7. What is the conclusion of the article? Use the Word Bank below:

non-governments national governments broad-based

amount business criticisms international

In order to reduce the 1) ____________ of marine plastic pollution the

world needs to involve the 2) ____________ of nations and organize
community-based projects in addition to having more 3) ____________
agreements and initiatives as well as intensive scientific studies.

8. What does the term “ocean governance” mean?

The term means to (Circle 1) involve/integrate/supervise and protect

the world’s oceans and their resources so that they continue to be clean,
(Circle 1) hurtful /beneficial/common, and unharmed.

Close-reading Questions:

9. A. What are the 2 ways that plastic pollutes the seas?

i.
ii.

B. Which is less of a problem? (circle your choice above)

10. Complete this sentence according to ⁋3:

The terms “marine-oriented” and “aqua-culture” both indicate something
connected to _____________ (one word).

11. How does the plastic waste get into the waterways? Complete the cause &
effect flow chart below.

Result 2 Result 1/Cause 2 Cause 1

Marine pollution  

12. What are 3 ways that marine pollution can affect wildlife?
a.
b.
c.
13. Why does the behavior of citizens in specific areas of the world cause a
problem that affects marine pollution?

14.Why is IMO an important international body? Use the Word Bank below:

The IMO’s role is to 1) ____________ a balance in shipping with the aim of

2) ____________ ship operators from trying to cut back 3) ____________ on
security and environmental concerns.

generate allowing compromising Adopt

encourage effective spending preventing

15. What does MARPOL aim to do?

(no more than 5 words)

16. What is suggested as the best way to reduce plastic pollution in general?

17. What things are suggested to reduce plastic marine pollution? Check  5
____ Reduce “single-use” plastics
____ Use plastic every day
____ Increase awareness through education
____ Reuse or use differently plastic items
____ Keep our mindsets and habits
____ Community action
____ Using re-useable products