State of the Oceans — Log 102
YOUR WEEKLY BRIEFING FROM PARLEY
PLASTIC POLLUTION
New research from the Australian government science agency suggests that there is likely 14 million tons of microplastic at the bottom of the ocean. The researchers looked at 51 samples and found that after excluding the weight of the water, each gram of sediment contained an average of 1.26 microplastic pieces. The scientists stated that they are not sure how old the pieces of plastic from the study are, but the shape suggested they were once consumer items. For the study, the researchers extrapolated the amount of plastic found in their core samples and from research from other organizations to conclude as much as 14.4m tons of microplastic was now on the ocean floor, globally. While this may seem like a large figure, it is small compared to the amount of plastics entering the ocean each year — upwards of 11 million tons.
TOXIC POLLUTION
A mysterious leak of toxic chemicals off the coast of eastern Russia, along the Kamchatka peninsula, has wiped out almost all of the marine life on the area’s seabed. Divers who inspected the area suggested that 95% of creatures on the ocean floor, including seals, octopi, starfish and urchins, were dead. The scientists investigating this disaster stated that the few remaining live sea creatures may too soon die due to a shock to the food chain or prolonged effects from the toxic substance to the ecosystem, as everything in nature is interconnected. From the water sampling so far, officials said tests showed nearly four times above-permitted levels of phenol and petroleum products. A criminal investigation has been launched to establish the source of the unexplained pollution, after the government initially downplayed this newfound disaster. Some scientists have speculated rocket fuel may have leaked out of storage facilities, while others have suggested harmful algal blooms to be the cause.
PLASTIC BANS
Canada has announced a sweeping ban on single-use plastics — including checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery and even foodware made from hard-to-recycle plastics. The plan will come into effect nationwide by the end of 2021 in a bid to reduce ocean waste. Single use plastics make up most of the plastic litter found in Canada’s freshwater environments. Currently, less than 10% of plastic used in Canada gets recycled. The move to ban single use plastics comes as part of a larger effort by the northerly nation to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. The government has also stated they will establish "targets" for companies that manufacture or sell plastics to be responsible for their plastic waste. Canadian Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson clarified that since PPE has become a part of peoples day-to-day lives, the ban would not affect access to PPE or other medical-related products. However, the government is working on finding solutions to recycle PPE safely and efficiently.
CARBON EMISSIONS
Leaked documents from Exxon’s $210 billion investment strategy show the massive oil company is planning to raise its yearly emissions by 17% by 2025, releasing an additional 21 million metric tons of CO2 per year. Unlike its competitors, the largest U.S. oil producer has never made a commitment to lower oil and gas output or set a date by which it will become carbon neutral. These near-term plans, released in 2018, have been disrupted by a decrease in oil demand from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report notes that these internal estimates "reflect only a small portion of Exxon's total contribution to climate change," and don't take into account emissions from customers burning fuel in vehicles or other end uses. That means the full climate impact of Exxon’s growth strategy could likely be five times the company's estimate had the company accounted for so-called Scope 3 emissions. If its plans are realized, Exxon alone would add to the atmosphere the annual emissions of a small, developed nation.
BOTTOM TRAWLING
A recent analysis of fishing vessels in the UK has found that bottom trawling and dredging, among the most destructive forms of fishing, have been happening in 71 of the 73 offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). An estimated 200,000 hours of these types of fishing were recorded from ships belonging to the UK, EU countries and Russia. The UK government has stated time and time again they want to take back control of the waters, yet trawling and dredging are still not illegal in most offshore MPAs. The researchers are calling this an ecological emergency. Prof Callum Roberts, a marine scientist at Exeter University, said “MPAs are highly ineffective... They are misleading the public, wasting resources, protecting nothing. They are not going to contribute to recovery of marine life, stem the loss of biodiversity or mitigate the impacts of climate change.” The UK government has pledged to protect 30% of their waters by 2030, but the only way to do so is if the government makes firm decisions to ban these forms of fishing.
… and meet “The Queen of the Ocean”
Researchers have discovered an ancient Great White Shark off the Nova Scotia Coast. She is more than 17 feet long, 3,541 pounds and believed to be about 50 years old.
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