Research Areas > Marine Debris > Plastic Debris Offshore

Research Area: Plastic Debris Offshore

The mid-20th century saw the mass introduction of new materials that resist oxidative and bacteriological decay. For the first time in history, trash in the environment (most often in the form of plastics) is not broken down into its constituent elements and recycled by natural processes. This has resulted in a build-up of plastic debris over time with both aesthetic and ecological consequences.

SCCWRP Research

SCCWRP and other collaborators have been working to understand and describe trends for not only larger trash but smaller debris as well. Most studies of marine debris have focused on large debris in highly populated areas because of aesthetic values. Hence, most people think of marine trash as the large items on the beach or in the water near recreational areas. However, large items discarded into the environment often break into smaller pieces through mechanical and ultraviolet degradation processes. In addition, other smaller plastic particles, which mostly consist of pre-production plastic pellets (a common starter material for larger plastics), are lost to the environment through accidental spills during transportation. Though unseen, these smaller plastics may present a larger ecological problem. Often, their shape and color mimic food. Birds and fish eat them because they resemble planktonic organisms, and filter feeders vacuum up the smaller sizes.

SCCWRP’s projects involving offshore debris include:

• Plastic in the North Pacific Gyre
• Plastic Offshore of Southern California
• Plastic at Different Depths