Plastic in oceans

WWF report presents a grim picture of marine pollution, including the massive destruction caused by ghost gear

The World Wildlife Fund and other organisations have regularly been sounding alarm bells about growing pollution of land, air and sea. It is debatable how much heed governments are paying to these warnings. Those watching the continued environmental degradation believe that the authorities are much wanting in taking the required measures letting things go from bad to worse. In its latest warning, the WWF has described plastic fishing gear left abandoned in the oceans at the greatest threat to marine life. These derelict plastic contraptions have already driven many sea species to the verge of extinction. Experts say while awareness about plastic pollution is increasing, there is little realisation of the harm being done by abandoned plastic equipment or ghost gear. Since the derelict plastic gear takes centuries to degrade, they continually kill fish, whales, dolphins, seabirds, turtles and sharks. They inflict grave harm on vital sea habitats.

The WWF report presents a grim picture of the ever-increasing marine pollution, including the massive destruction caused by ghost gear. According to WWF estimates, between 500,000 and one million tonnes of fishing gear enter the oceans annually. The derelict gear in the ocean is proving disastrous for marine life. This is borne out by the fact that the number of species affected by either entanglement or by plastic waste entering their system has doubled since 1997. Experts have estimated that more than 90% species entangled in ghost gear are of commercial value. The ghost gear damages marine life in countless ways thus affecting both sea species and humans by harming the environment and livelihoods. The plastic gears hinder the movement of boats and ships. Activists have called on the government of Pakistan to join the Global Ghost Gear initiative to help protect marine life. It seems that fish will soon disappear and there will be only plastic in the oceans, or not many fish.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2020.

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