Make Our Oceans Clean Again: Final Research Paper

Make Our Oceans Clean Again

Introduction
       The year is 2019. Global issues are contaminating the planet and individuals far and wide are more informed than ever on these topics. People are now more inclined to become activists, fighting for the justice they believe the world needs. While there are hundreds of problems that require immediate solutions, the one that appears most dire to solve for the health of the planet and all of its inhabitants is marine pollution.
       While there are tons of individual plastics traveling on ocean waves, there are also five accumulation zones across the globe with millions of tons of floating plastic islands (“What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?”). Of these five zones, one mass found between Hawaii and California is the largest, referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or GPGP for short. In a scientific report titled “Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic”, the writer states “...calibrated with data from multi-vessel and aircraft surveys, predicted at least 79 (45–129) thousand tonnes of ocean plastic are floating inside an area of 1.6 million km2…” (1). This large floating mass of plastic waste is three times the size of France and yet, it is only a fraction of the total amount of pollution in the oceans. It has been proven time and time again that plastic pollution in the seas poses a major threat to marine and human life. In an article written by researcher Melissa Denchak about the dangerous state the oceans are currently in, she states “They govern the weather, clean the air, help feed the world, and provide a living for millions. They also are home to most of the life on earth…” (“Ocean Pollution: The Dirty Facts”). These are only a few of the things that the oceans and their inhabitants do for the world. With the amount of plastic being found in the ocean, it is no surprise that marine animals are being found with their stomachs full of plastic bits. Some of these animals are being consumed by humans, meaning that humans are directly consuming bits of plastic as well. The weather, temperature of the globe, and levels of oxygen are all guided by the means of the oceans. If marine ecosystems continue to be abused as they have been, their biodiversity will be destroyed, ceasing their production of the oxygen that life on Earth depends on and leading to global temperatures rising at increasing rates.
       The effects of climate change, ocean and land pollution, and deforestation are more apparent now than ever before. Action must be taken as soon as possible to prevent the Earth and marine ecosystems from being damaged any further. One incredibly beneficial step is to find a way to remove all of the plastic waste found in the oceans with little to no damage to marine life. As the GPGP is the largest, it is the one that requires the most immediate attention. After familiarizing myself with the evidence presented in the various sources I will be citing throughout this paper, I feel as though I can present a realistic solution for this issue. Within this research paper, I will be conducting my own research study to answer this question: What can be done to sustainably remove the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and other large masses of waste from the oceans? While answering this question, I will also be discussing the effects of marine pollution and some ways this contamination can be reduced at the individual level.

Methods
       While conducting this research study, I am an undergraduate student attending the University of Central Florida. The first step to writing this research paper was choosing a topic to focus on. I chose to create a list on paper of hot topics that intrigued me. I then revised the list of ten topics and drew a straight line through those that I believed would be harder to find information on. While narrowing down my topic, I also considered their relevance and how likely it would be for me to discover a solution. This brought me to three main topics: police brutality, pollution in our oceans, and school shootings. I proceed by jotting down bullets of information I already knew about each of the three topics. This allowed me to easily visualize which topic I was more informed about and therefore, would be more successful with, resulting in me choosing to dissect pollution in our oceans.
       While planning for this paper, I first used my laptop to Google the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This brought me to discovering an organization titled The Ocean Cleanup that has developed a technological solution for removing plastics from the ocean. This source inspired me to dig deeper for more possible solutions while also learning about their plan and considering ways it can be modified. Originally, I had selected sources from Google searches as my main sources of evidence. It was brought to my attention by Professor Taylor that these sources were not as credible as they could have been and that I should try searching for new sources using the University of Central Florida’s library tool. On their website, students are able to search keywords in order to discover thousands of journals, articles, and other scholarly sources. By searching the keywords “ocean pollution” and “marine ecosystem importance”, I was able to find four scholarly journals and other research papers written about the same general topic. The reason finding scholarly sources is so important for this particular research paper is because the stakeholders I am targetting, environmentalists and marine conservationists, are convinced by intellectual means. In a reading provided by Professor Taylor titled Backpacks vs Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis, writer Laura Bolin Caroll discusses three methods of persuasion. She states that researchers must consider their audience when they write, likely leaning on logos, an argument from reason that appeals to the audience’s intellectual side, to convince their readers (52). By citing credible sources, the audience will trust me and the information I am providing through my research paper more as all of my claims will be backed up by reliable evidence.
       While planning my research paper, I also relied on other scholarly readings provided by Professor Taylor to guide me toward choosing a stakeholder and genre for this research paper. I chose to refer back to these readings when choosing a genre to write in so that I could ensure that my final product remained within the ENC1102 course objectives. The only issue I had during this process was having to discover new sources after already having done so early on in the process. In the end, this small setback was necessary or I would have been left depending on sources that are not credible or substantial enough to support all of my claims.

Results & Discussion

Contrasting most research papers, I will be combining my results and discussion sections for the sake of ensuring that my findings and the conclusions drawn from these findings are clear and easy to follow. 

       Throughout my research process, I collected an array of data about the effects of pollution in the oceans as well as just how much plastic can be found in the GPGP. One thing that I found to be reiterated by all of the sources I drew evidence from is that on average, 70-80% of the pollution in the oceans comes from the land through rivers (“Microplastics in the oceans: the solution lies on land”, 26). As humans generally live on the land, it can be inferred that our excess use of plastics is causing a surge in marine pollution. This ties directly to corporations that have been increasingly producing plastic to contain their products. In a study done by researchers Geyer, Jambeck, and Lavender, they found that annual global plastic pollution doubled in between the years 2000 to 2016 (Marine Litter: Solutions for a Major Environmental Problem”, 2). Below is a graph that presents their data, showing the exponential growth of plastic production between 1950 and 2016.

Annual global production of plastics between 1950 and 2016 (Data Source: Geyer, Jambeck, and Lavender, 2017).

       The excessive growth of plastic pollution over the course of the last three decades has led to the overwhelming problem that is the GPGP. In a study conducted by a group of scientific researchers, this correlation between the production of plastic and plastic pollution in the oceans is proven. The concentration of plastic in the GPGP doubled between 2000 and 2015. This is represented in the graph below. During these same years, the production of plastics also doubled.

Concentration of plastics in the GPGP between 1965 and 2015 (Data Source: "Evidence that the GPGP is rapidly accumulating plastic").

       This shows that as time progresses, more harmful products are created, consumed, and later thrown away, most likely ending up in the oceans. This brings me to the first phase of the solution I am proposing which is increasing education and awareness of the damage caused by single-use plastics. In the scholarly article titled “Microplastics in the oceans: the solution lies on land”, the writers state, “Consumers clearly play a vital role. Buying responsibly is one way to prevent the production of waste plastic” (Abreu and Pedrotti, 28). As corporations are directly influenced by the demands of consumers, influencing individuals to change their shopping habits may over time lead to a decrease in the production of plastic. Also, once corporations notice that their consumers are being more mindful of their plastic use due to their drive to protect the planet, these corporations will choose to stop using these substances in their products in order to keep their sales up. An example of this can be seen with the Starbucks company which pledged to eliminate all plastic straws from their stores by 2020 due to a surge of concerns from the public over the dangers posed by single-use straws (Corbett, 1). Once both consumers and corporations make an effort to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics, governments will follow. Legislative changes such as France’s ban on lightweight plastic bags are the most concrete way to ensure that consumers across the globe are using little to no single-use plastics (Abreu and Pedrotti, 29). With changes of this nature as well as the development of laws that protect the oceans, it will be much easier to remove the waste from the GPGP and other floating masses as they will no longer be growing at increasing rates. Based on the findings provided above, I believe that before the oceans can be fully cleansed, we must focus on educating the public and bringing this dire issue to their attention.
       Now, moving on to actually removing the giant sums of waste from the oceans sustainably. It is known that the GPGP and other large masses of floating waste are far from coastlines, making them a bit difficult to access. The shape and specific location of the GPGP are also constantly changing due to changes in wind and ocean currents (“What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?”). Because of its location, the GPGP can only be reached by boat. The most sustainable kind of boat would be a solar-powered one but if unattainable, using a regular boat that runs on efficient fuel is the next best alternative. Scientific writer Melissa Denchak claims, “many marine mammals like whales and dolphins...rely on communication by sound to find food, mate, and navigate....an increasing barrage of human-generated ocean noise pollution is...harming...marine species worldwide” (“Ocean Pollution: The Dirty Facts”). In order to ensure that our cleansing process is as sustainable as possible, we must consider different variations of pollution such as sound. Besides having to find an energy efficient boat, we must also ensure that its engine is not very loud as to protect marine wildlife. One way to avoid disrupting mammals mating seasons is to only travel to the GPGP during their off months. According to a study done on whale songs, “Singing is rare during the summer months, becomes more common in fall, peaks during the winter breeding season, and continues into spring...” (Darling, 2). Now that we know that Winter and Spring are the more significant months for breeding in the oceans, we can plan to visit the GPGP strictly during the Summer and early Fall months so those marine mammals can thrive. We can also plan trips to other floating masses of waste in the oceans that are not near breeding sites during the Winter and Spring months. By choosing an energy efficient, quiet boat, we can not only reduce our use of fossil fuels throughout this process but can also protect the mating season of marine mammals.
       To actually remove the GPGP, we must create a piece of technology that is sustainable and does not harm marine life. The Ocean Cleanup has already created a device to do exactly that, but it is not perfect. I believe that with modifications, this piece of technology can work wonders for our oceans. Below is a graphic illustration of the technology currently being used to clean the GPGP. It is equipped with a camera and satellite and navigation devices to keep track of its location as it drifts through the sea.

The Ocean Cleanup System 001 (Data Source: Technology: How it works)

       When modifying this technology, I believe those are two important factors that the device must remain equipped with. This piece of technology is also energy neutral, meaning that there are no fossil fuels required to allow it to travel. The natural currents and forces of the oceans allow it to move around, collecting as much debris as possible. Another major concern is how a device like this will impact wildlife. The Ocean Cleanup claims that the device is slow enough for creatures to swim away, there is a screen to catch debris, not a net, so sea life cannot become entangled, the screen is impenetrable so the current will flow underneath the screen, guiding organisms away, and the plastic will be removed periodically so there will frequently be individuals present to help any wildlife that may have somehow gotten themselves stuck (“Technology: How it works”). All of these are viewed as helpful enough safeguards for marine life. Below is a graphic illustration of how fish are predicted to interact with the device upon an encounter.

Illustration of the downward flow below the skirt (Data Source: Technology: How it works)

       I trust in the studies completed by this organization that these features would be able to protect sea life. So far, all parts of the system I have analyzed here are sustainable and exactly what is needed for a rescue mission of this size. However, because of the openness of the system and its constant interaction with strong currents, I believe that some of the waste caught will easily escape the system and once again get lost at sea. If we can find a way to possibly make the system a bit taller to provide some sort of barrier between the waves and the waste, I believe we will have a perfect system to remove the waste from the GPGP sustainably.
       After removing the waste from the oceans, the most sustainable option moving forward would be to create new products using the upcycled plastics. This is a plan which has already been implemented in a different way in some big stores in the U.K. The company John Lewis exemplifies this by buying old clothing, furniture, and other items from customers. According to the scientific journal titled “Marine Litter: Solutions for a Major Environmental Problem”, the author states, “In 2017, the store took back for upcycling >27,000 electrical products and 2000 sofas” (6). The large number of participants proves that consumers are willing to upcycle their used items instead of getting rid of them. This means that upcycling plastics from the oceans and using them to make new products will likely be very successful and the most sustainable option for getting rid of the marine waste after retrieving it from the oceans.

Conclusion
       After collecting and organizing this data in order to present the severity of the marine pollution issue with a valid solution, I can reiterate that my plan must be carried out as soon as possible. The health of the oceans was put in jeopardy by humans, yet ironically humans are the oceans only hope of survival. We are quickly running out of time and I believe that even if my solution is not as concrete as many would hope, it is trustworthy enough to attempt carrying out. Before conducting this research study, I was already well aware of how dire this topic has been in recent years. I am a strong advocate for protecting the Earth’s natural wonders and shifted my lifestyle months ago to minimize my consumption of single-use plastics as much as humanly possible. In the upcoming years of research on this topic, I hope that my solution is able to make a great change or another solution will be discovered that is even more impactful than the one I created through my own research. I hope that more research is done on other forms of technology that can clean the oceans of plastic or maybe even a newfound purpose for upcycled plastics.
       All in all, this research study opened my eyes to the tragic truth of our planet’s health. I have been able to educate myself further on a topic that is increasingly important and even found a solution for it which I hope my stakeholders will be willing to support.

Works Cited

Williams, A. T. .., and Nelson2 Rangel-Buitrago. “Marine Litter: Solutions for a Major
        Environmental Problem.” Journal of Coastal Research, vol. 35, no. 3, May 2019, pp. 648–663. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-18-00096.1. Accessed 18 June. 2019.
https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.net.ucf.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=e52c5113-9667-4031-9f55-aae39caa2ea5%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=136160641&db=aci

Abreu, André, and Maria Luiza Pedrotti. “Microplastics in the Oceans: The Solutions Lie on
        Land.” Field Actions Science Reports, 2019. EBSCOhost, Accessed 18 June. 2019. search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsrev&AN=edsrev.AE4206E4&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Lebreton, L., et al. “Evidence That the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Rapidly Accumulating
        Plastic.” SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, vol. 8. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w. Accessed 20 June 2019.

Ocean Cleanup. “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” The Ocean Cleanup,
        www.theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/. Accessed 3 June. 2019.

Carroll, Laura Bolin. “Backpacks vs Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis.” Writing
        Spaces: Readings on Writing, vol. 1, 2010, pp. 1-15.

Denchak, Melissa. “Ocean Pollution: The Dirty Facts.” NRDC, 17 Jan. 2019,
        www.nrdc.org/stories/ocean-pollution-dirty-facts. Accessed 3 June. 2019.

Corbett, Erin. “These 8 Companies Are Ditching Plastic Straws. Here's How They Are Replacing
        Them.” Fortune, 2018, fortune.com/2018/07/11/ditching-plastic-straws-replacements/. Accessed 20 June. 2019.

James D. Darling, et al. “Humpback Whale Songs: Do They Organize Males during the Breeding
        Season?” Behaviour, vol. 143, no. 9, 2006, p. 1051. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.4536395&site=eds-live&scope=site.