Marine plastic pollution : A short assessment

Transcription

1 Marine plastic pollution : A short assessment Talking Trade and Trash, WTO, June 7 th, 2017 Supported by :

2 The oceans The oceans, our main resource > 97% of water reserves > 50% of atmospheric oxygen > 80% of world biomass > Center of biogeochemical cycles : O, H 2 0, C, H, N, P, S > Climate regulation The oceans, a mystery > Estimation : only 10% of marine species are known > Better knowledge of the Moon surface than seafloor. The oceans, a threatened resource

3 Impacts Impacts of human activities on the oceans : > Global warming > Overfishing > Pollution of various kinds Map of impacts of human activities Source : Halpern et al Conclusion : very few saved areas

4 Marine plastic pollution: some numbers Objects of human origin lost at sea Pollutants : physical, chemical or biological alteration Resistant products : some metals, plastics Input of plastic waste in the oceans ~ 8 Mtons/year World marine plastic pollution: Mtons Coasts : ~ doubles every 10 years Seafloor : 60% Seasurface : 40% Average : particles/km 2 Remark : these numbers are estimations

5 Seafloor Plastic marco waste on seafloor Source : Pham IMAR

6 Sea surface The plastics : Macro waste Fragmentation Micro waste > They don t degrade > They fragment The fragments : > Dimensions = plankton > Ingestion

7 Waste patches > Floating plastic is transported by sea currents > Higher concentration in the gyres > Formation of «continents of plastic» A recent issue : : Discovery : Quantification Marine debris digital prediction model Source : Eriksen 2014 From 2014 : First global assessment

8 The myth of waste patches

9 The reality of North Atlantic waste patch Source : Law particle / 10 m 2

10 But also high plastic concentrations are found in densely populated areas Ex. Mediterranean Sea and The South East Asia Marine debris digital prediction model Source : Eriksen 2014

11 Impacts 4) Fishing / Safety of navigation 1) Fauna and flora 5) Aesthetic and tourism 2) Dissemination of invasive species 6) Human health? 3) Concentration and transport of PBTs (Pesistant bioaccumulative toxic substances)

12 The mystery of missing plastics Source : Jambeck 2015, Science Plastic waste inputs: ~ t./year Where is all this floating plastic? Total Surface plastic pollution: ~ t. Source : Eriksen 2015, Plos One

13 Where is all this plastic? Hypotheses : > Fragmentation in small particles (< 300 um, lack of data) > Pollution around sources under-estimated (lack of data) > Macro-waste underestimated (lack of data) Source : Thompson 2014

14 Where is all this plastic? Hypotheses : > Biofouling organisms sink on seafloor > Interaction with plankton > Enzymatic digestion (bacteria) > Animal stomachs > Particles trapped in ice Image : Chris Jordan Source : Cole 2013

15 Wrong information = false solutions What everybody is talking about: Ocean Clean-up Treat the symptom or the cause?

16 Wrong information = false solutions But the real issue is: Short term Effective waste collection and waste management systems developing countries Long term Rethink the use of plastic (ex. packaging) Should be considered as a resource Energy (heat, electricity) Recycling

17 Thank you for your attention Questions? Supported by:

18 , our approach Marine debris. The cleaning of the oceans is an utopia. The solution is the limitation of the scattering of waste. Research > Lack of data Awareness > Lack of information Data Sampling Laboratory Creation of information Transmission of information

19 Awareness Our awareness methods : > Conferences et stands (young et adults) > Show for young audience > Internet > Press and medias > A journal > Network

20 Participative science > Oceaneye provides the tools and the protocols > Volunteer boats collect the samples > Oceaneye performs the lab analysis in collaboration with academics > Oceaneye provides data to scientists (including Grid/UNEP) > Oceaneye collaborate with several partners to generate awareness (including young audience)

21 (Swiss) boats participating in the project

22 Lab analysis and cartography

23 Thank you for your attention Questions? Supported by: