Begin ocean garbage cleanup immediately
In the Science News story “Cleaning up ocean ‘garbage patches’ could destroy delicate ecosystems”, A. B. Vigil describes research showing that cleaning up garbage patches in the ocean could harm some marine species , but she neglects to weigh these risks against the harm caused by failing to clean up the garbage. Although cleaning up ocean dumps could have local effects on some species, cleanup efforts should proceed without delay.
The three species found in the research Vigil cites—blue button jellies, by-the-wind sailors, and violet snails—play distinct roles in maintaining the balance and stability of the marine ecosystem, as the News story explains. However, potential harm to these species should not serve as a justification to postpone cleanup. These jellies, sailors, and snails have wide geographical distributions, and none of their populations is endangered or at risk of substantial decline . Removing the garbage would likely not reduce their populations to the point that ecosystem balance would be at risk . Furthermore, the openness and complexity of marine ecosystems grant them resilience , enabling gradual recovery to a healthier state even if some species are removed.
The News story reflects the concern of some people that any action that affects specific organisms or their habitats (including removing garbage) is potentially undesirable and should be carefully considered. One source notes, with apparent approval, that temporarily preserving garbage patches within protected areas could delay cleanup, providing time to gather more data. This reluctance would make sense if the entire ecosystem were at risk. However, given that the harm would likely be temporary , a delay would prioritize individual organisms over broader ecosystem health, flouting the original intention of marine protected areas: to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.The News story does not sufficiently emphasize that cleaning up ocean garbage patches would have substantial benefits that outweigh any direct impact on individual organisms. Reducing plastic pollution in these areas would improve water quality and reduce harm to marine life from ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in ghost fishing gear. Removing floating macroplastics would prevent them from sinking, degrading into microplastics , and releasing additional harmful chemicals.
Delaying cleanup efforts will only result in the accumulation of more plastic waste in the ocean. With the current most efficient cleanup technology and capacity, it would take about 100 years to fully clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, without accounting for the continuous accumulation of new plastic debris . The investigations and assessments advocated in the News story should be conducted during the cleanup process. If evidence shows that certain cleanup methods can minimize additional environmental or ecological damage, adjustments should be made accordingly.