Response #15 : Plastic Fish

Charles Moore, a scientific researcher and sea captain, stumbled upon a massive patch of trash trapped in the Pacific Ocean by sea currents and the North Pacific Gyre, referred to as the Pacific Garbage Patch. Moore had pointed out that the majority of the debris was Polypropylene and polyethylene plastics as they are lighter than water. Although plastics are cheap and convenient, plastic pose a significant health risk to the marine environment due to the contamination of marine life. Nell Greenberg discusses the health dangers with Charles Moore in his article “Captain Charles Moore”.

Moore points out that plastic have been found in tiniest zooplankton all the way to the largest cetaceans. In addition to plastics containing their own chemical contaminates; they can absorb oil, and other toxins, and are eventually leached into the system of the creatures that consume them. Many of the contaminated marine life are consumed by mammals, including humans, spreading the contamination to land dwellers as well.

Beyond contamination, and causing odd side effects such as swordfish males producing eggs, plastics are not digestible, and often turn off a creatures desire to eat, causing starvation. Each year is getting worse, and worse. As with the advancements of science, and technology, the commercial industry has developed into a disposable society. These conveniences’ have the unintended consequences of genetically altering many species, and contaminating the oceans for those that live, and/or eat there.

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