Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic

Lebreton, Laurent; Slat, Boyan; Ferrari, Francesco; Sainte-Rose, Bruno; Aitken, Jennifer; Marthouse, Robert; Hajbane, Sara; Cunsolo, Serena; Schwarz, Anna; Levivier, Aurore; Noble, K.; Debeljak, Pavla; Maral, Hannah; Schoeneich-Argent, R.; Brambini, Roberto; Reisser, Júlia

doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w

Cited by 1,153 publications

(704 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Several studies have reported a correlation between the size of plastics and their rising velocity (Kooi et al, 2016;Lebreton et al, 2018;Reisser et al, 2015). Chubarenko et al (2016) determined the windage coefficient of plastics based on size and density, and Lebreton et al (2018) derived a windage coefficient for plastics in the North Pacific garbage patch by using it as a calibration parameter for their numerical model. Despite these efforts there is no generally applicable method to relate material properties to relevant transport properties of plastics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moore et al (2001) first observed a garbage patch in the North Pacific Ocean. Since then, several sampling studies have confirmed the existence of garbage patches in both the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans (Lebreton et al, 2018;van Sebille et al, 2015). There are fewer sampling studies in the Southern Hemisphere, but a sharp gradient in the measured plastic concentration suggests that there is a garbage patch in the South Pacific Ocean as well (Eriksen et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of Indian Ocean Dynamics on Accumulation of Buoyant Debris

2019

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Buoyant marine plastic debris has become a serious problem affecting the marine environment. To fully understand the impact of this problem, it is important to understand the dynamics of buoyant debris in the ocean. Buoyant debris accumulates in “garbage patches” in each of the subtropical ocean basins because of Ekman convergence and associated downwelling at subtropical latitudes. However, the precise dynamics of the garbage patches are not well understood. This is especially true in the southern Indian Ocean (SIO), where observations are inconclusive about the existence and numerical models predict inconsistent locations of the SIO garbage patch. In addition, the oceanic and atmospheric dynamics in the SIO are very different from those in the other oceans. The aim of this paper is to determine the dynamics of the SIO garbage patch at different depths and under different transport mechanisms such as ocean surface currents, Stokes drift, and direct wind forcing. To achieve this, we use two types of ocean surface drifters as a proxy for buoyant debris. We derive transport matrices from observed drifter locations and simulate the global accumulation of buoyant debris. Our results indicate that the accumulation of buoyant debris in the SIO is much more sensitive to different transport mechanisms than in the other ocean basins. We relate this sensitivity to the unique oceanic and atmospheric dynamics of the SIO.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Indian Ocean Dynamics on Accumulation of Buoyant Debris

2019

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“…Data from 24 oceanic expeditions suggest that the total amount of ocean plastic pollution was at a minimum of 5.25 trillion pieces weighing over 250,000 tons (Eriksen et al, 2014). However, more recent estimates based on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch suggest that the amount of plastic may be four to 16 times higher than previous estimates (Lebreton et al, 2018). If other areas of the ocean have accumulated plastic at a similar or faster rate, then the global total may be much higher than previously estimated.…”

Section: Marine Plastic Pollution Is a Global Threat To Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The U.S. plastic waste stream informed by Jambeck et al (), Brooks, Wang, and Jambeck (), EPA (), Lebreton et al (), and Penca (2018). Illustrated by Erin Cinkant…”

Section: Single‐use Plastics Fishing Nets and The United States: Thementioning

confidence: 99%

The United States requires effective federal policy to reduce marine plastic pollution

Iverson

2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

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The amount of plastic entering the ocean is expected to increase by an order of magnitude by 2025. Marine plastic pollution threatens biodiversity through entanglement, ingestion, and chemical exposure. The United States is in the top 20 of 192 coastal countries with mismanaged waste entering the ocean. This paper addresses U.S. policies regarding single‐use plastics and fishing nets, two major sources of plastic pollution. Currently, the United States does not have a federal ban on most single‐use plastics or on synthetic gillnets. This paper recommends a federal ban on single‐use plastics, alternative material for fishing nets and/or increased regulations, more research into the ecological and policy considerations of plastic pollution, continuing cleanup efforts and learning from policy challenges faced by other countries. The United States can look to the recent European Plastics Strategy as a leading example of large‐scale policy initiatives to reduce marine plastic pollution.

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“…The role of long‐distance dispersal in population expansion is historically difficult to enumerate, but evidence from the Japanese tsunami of 2011 shows that a wide variety of marine organisms are able to survive for years adrift on debris across more than 7,000 km of ocean (Carlton et al, ). As the amount of oceanic debris continues to increase (Eriksen et al, ; Lebreton et al, ), this dispersal mechanism is likely to grow in prevalence and may lead to increased likelihood of species invasions. Dispersal is a critical first step to population establishment, but on arrival, individuals surviving oceanic transport on debris face several barriers to population growth (Blackburn et al, ; Carlquist, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring potential establishment of marine rafting species after transoceanic long‐distance dispersal

Simkanin

Carlton

Steves

et al. 2019

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim On 11 March 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that resulted in the largest known rafting event in recorded history. By spring 2012, marine debris began washing ashore along the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada with a wide range of Asian coastal species attached. We used this unique dataset, where the source region, date of dislodgment and landing location are known, to assess the potential for species invasions by transoceanic rafting on marine debris. Location Northeast Pacific from 20 to 60°N. Time period Current. Major taxa studied Forty‐eight invertebrate and algal species recorded on Japanese tsunami marine debris (JTMD). Methods We developed maximum entropy (MaxEnt) species distribution models for 48 species recorded on JTMD to predict establishment potential along the Pacific coast from 20 to 60°N. Models were compared within the context of historical marine introductions from Japan to this region to validate the emergence of marine debris as a novel vector for species transfer. Results Overall, 27% (13 species) landed with debris at locations with suitable environmental conditions for establishment and survival, indicating that these species may be able to establish new populations or introduce greater genetic diversity to already established non‐native populations. A further 21 species have an environmental match to areas where tsunami debris likely landed, but was not extensively sampled. Nearly 100 Japanese marine species previously invaded the northeastern Pacific, demonstrating this region’s environmental suitability for rafting Japanese biota. Historical invasions from Japan are highest in California and largely known from bays and harbours. Main conclusions Marine debris is a novel and growing vector for non‐native species introduction. By utilizing a unique dataset of JTMD species, our predictive models show capacity for new transoceanic invasions and can focus monitoring priorities to detect successful long‐distance dispersal across the world’s oceans.

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Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic

Cited by 1,153 publications

References 52 publications

Role of Indian Ocean Dynamics on Accumulation of Buoyant Debris

Role of Indian Ocean Dynamics on Accumulation of Buoyant Debris

The United States requires effective federal policy to reduce marine plastic pollution

Exploring potential establishment of marine rafting species after transoceanic long‐distance dispersal

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