A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters has highlighted a concerning trend: the North Pacific Garbage Patch, which spans an area three times the size of Spain, continues to grow due to plastic waste from around the globe.
Conducted by The Ocean Cleanup between 2015 and 2022, the research revealed that plastic fragments, particularly microplastics, are increasing at an alarming rate. The concentration of plastic fragments surged from 2.9 kg per km² to 14.2 kg per km² over the seven-year period.
Shockingly, between 74% and 96% of this increase can be traced back to foreign countries. Critical waste points have also seen a dramatic rise, with their concentration escalating from 1 million to over 10 million per km².
These findings indicate that the influx of plastic is not merely a result of degradation but rather an ongoing problem, with new materials continuously entering this remote ocean region. The volume of plastic waste now exceeds the biomass of marine organisms, posing a significant threat to marine ecosystems and contributing to the spread of invasive species.
Lead author Laurent Lebreton emphasizes the need for urgent global action to address plastic pollution and its detrimental effects on marine life.