"Beneath the Waves" by Soojin Nam

We often picture the ocean as a place overflowing with life and resources, yet beneath its surface lies a vast and urgent problem. Every year, millions of tons of human made waste enter the sea, and plastic remains one of the most persistent and harmful forms of pollution. Among these, microplastics, fragments smaller than five millimeters, pose an especially silent yet dangerous threat. Once they enter the ocean, these particles are nearly impossible to trace to their origin. Carried by currents, they transport chemical additives and absorbed pollutants to distant waters.

Marine animals often mistake these particles for food. Fish, mussels, and even whales consume microplastics, releasing toxic chemicals into their bodies. Laboratory studies have shown that these substances can hinder development, interfere with reproduction, and weaken resistance to disease. The danger goes beyond individual species. At the base of the food chain, zooplankton cannot distinguish between natural prey and plastic fragments. Predators that feed on contaminated plankton pass the plastics further up the chain, eventually reaching seafood consumed by humans.

Marine debris extends far beyond microplastics. The ocean has become a repository for an array of waste, from lost fishing gear and cigarette butts to plastic bags, food wrappers, and abandoned vessels. Some debris is too small to detect with the naked eye, while larger objects such as derelict ships and industrial equipment can crush delicate habitats like coral reefs. Plastics are especially problematic because they can persist in the environment for decades or centuries, breaking into smaller pieces without ever disappearing completely.

This pollution originates from both land and sea. Poor waste management, littering, stormwater runoff, and severe weather events all funnel debris into the ocean. Even communities far inland contribute as wind and rain carry lightweight plastics into rivers and streams. Lost nets and fishing gear drift for months or years, entangling marine life in a phenomenon known as ghost fishing. In some cases, these nets reach protected areas such as the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, where they threaten unique species including the Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle.

The scale of this problem is staggering. In 2016, scientists estimated that as much as 23 million metric tons of plastic waste entered oceans and waterways from land in a single year, more than ten percent of global plastic production. This figure excludes debris generated at sea from ships or offshore platforms. The sheer volume makes cleanup a formidable challenge, as waste spreads to remote coastlines, polar ice, and even the deepest ocean trenches.

The impacts extend beyond ecological harm. Coastal economies suffer as marine debris drives away tourists, while local governments face heavy cleanup costs. Abandoned crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay kill millions of crabs annually, reducing catches and causing significant financial losses. Plastics and their chemical additives also infiltrate seafood, posing potential risks to human health.

Addressing this crisis requires more than removing debris after it reaches the sea. Prevention is essential. Reducing waste at its source means rethinking consumption habits, choosing repair and reuse over disposal, and refusing unnecessary single use plastics. Communities can strengthen waste management systems, enforce anti littering regulations, and encourage citizen participation in cleanup efforts along coasts and inland waterways. Because ocean pollution transcends borders, international cooperation is vital.

Marine plastic pollution is a problem created by humans, but it is also one that humans can solve. By closing the pathways through which waste enters our seas, we can protect the health of marine ecosystems and safeguard the future of the oceans that sustain us.