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Marine plastic pollution :A short assessment
Talking Trade and Trash, WTO, June 7th, 2017
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The oceans
The oceans, our main resource
> 97% of water reserves> 50% of atmospheric oxygen> 80% of world biomass> Center of biogeochemical cycles :O, H20, 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
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Impacts
Impacts of human activities on the oceans :
> Global warming
> Overfishing
> Pollution of various kinds
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Map of impacts of human activitiesSource : Halpern et al. 2015
Conclusion : very few saved areas
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Marine plastic pollution: some numbers
Objects of human originlost 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:100 – 150 Mtons
Coasts :~ doubles every 10 years
Seafloor : 60%
Seasurface : 40%Average : 18’000 particles/km2
Remark : these numbers are estimations
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Seafloor
Plastic marco waste on seafloorSource : Pham 2014 - IMAR
Sea surface
The plastics :
> They don’t degrade> They fragment
The fragments :
> Dimensions = plankton> Ingestion
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Micro‐waste
Macro‐waste
Fragmentation
Waste patches
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> Floating plastic is transported by sea currents> Higher concentration in the gyres> Formation of « continents of plastic »
A recent issue :
1997 – 2005 : Discovery
2006 – 2013 : Quantification
From 2014 : First global assessment
Marine debris digital prediction model Source : Eriksen 2014
The myth of waste patches
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The reality of North Atlantic waste patch
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Source : Law 2010 1 particle / 10 m2
But also… high plastic concentrations are found in densely populated areas
Ex. Mediterranean Sea and The South East Asia
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Marine debris digital prediction model Source : Eriksen 2014
Impacts
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1) Fauna and flora
2) Dissemination of invasive species
4) Fishing / Safety of navigation
5) Aesthetic and tourism
6) Human health ?
3) Concentration and transport of PBTs(Pesistant bioaccumulative toxic substances)
The mystery of “missing” plastics
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Source : Jambeck 2015, Science
Source : Eriksen 2015, Plos One
Plastic waste inputs:~ 8’000’000 t./year
Total Surface plastic pollution:~ 250’000 t.
Where is all this floating plastic?
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)
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Source : Thompson 2014
Where is all this plastic?
Hypotheses :
> Biofouling organisms sink on seafloor> Interaction with plankton> Enzymatic digestion (bacteria)> Animal stomachs> Particles trapped in ice
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Source : Cole 2013Image : Chris Jordan
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Wrong information = false solutions
What everybody is talking about:Ocean Clean-up
Treat the symptom or the cause ?
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Wrong information = false solutions
But the real issue is:
Short termEffective waste collection and waste management systems developingcountries
Long termRethink the use of plastic (ex. packaging)Should be considered as a resource Energy (heat, electricity) Recycling
Thank you for your attention
Questions ?
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, our approach
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Marine debris.The cleaning of the oceans is an utopia.The solution is the limitation of the scattering of waste.
Data Sampling
Research> Lack of data
Awareness> Lack of information
LaboratoryCreation of information
Transmission of information
Awareness
Our awareness methods :
> Conferences et stands (young et adults)> Show for young audience> Internet> Press and medias> A journal> Network
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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)
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(Swiss) boats participating in the project
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Lab analysis and cartography
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Thank you for your attention
Questions ?
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