NEW GARBAGE PATCH DISCOVERED IN INDIAN OCEAN

Scientists previously mapped huge floating trash patches in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans but now, a husband-wife team researching plastic garbage in the Indian Ocean report a new garbage patch located in the Indian Ocean. Along with the North Pacific and North Atlantic Ocean Gyres this Indian Ocean garbage patch discovery means there are now three confirmed ocean zones of plastic pollution.

A third garbage collection zone, this one in the Indian Ocean, emerges. By Katherine Butler

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/new-ocean-garbage-patch-discovered#

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a mess of trash and plastic that moves around the north Pacific Ocean and is roughly the size of Texas. It has a high concentration of plastics and chemical sludge. Photos from the patch of trapped sea turtles and tires will snare the attention of even the most stone-hearted cynic. A second plastic gyre has been discovered in the north Atlantic Ocean. And as Yahoo Green reports, another gyre was recently spotted in the Indian Ocean.

Ocean currents collect floating garbage and drop it into gyres that serve as a convergence spot. Trash has long washed up on the beaches of India, and now experts have confirmed that it may in part be due to a giant swirl of refuse making its way around the Indian Ocean.

Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen — co-founders of the 5 Gyres Institute, which is focused on plastic pollution in the oceans — report that of "the 12 water samples collected in the 3,000 miles between Perth, Australia, and Port Louis, Mauritius (an island due East of Madagascar), contain plastic.” As Cummins explained to Yahoo Green, "We now have a third accumulation zone of plastic pollution that shows compounding evidence that the trash isn't condensed to an island. It's spread out across the entire gyre from coast to coast."
Often called the world’s largest dump, these oceanic gyres are comprised of anything and everything that goes into the sea. Discover Magazine refers to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch this way: “Around and around: bottles, plastic bags, fishnets, clothing, lighters, and myriad other man-made items, held until they disintegrate, make their way to distant seas, or merely bob among the waves before washing up on someone’s beach.” In the North America alone, over 14 billion pounds of trash go into the ocean each year. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that merchant ships dump 90 percent of the waste, while recreational boaters, the military, and cruise ships contribute the rest — with a 1 percent dose of sewage thrown in.
So where does this leave the Indian Ocean Garbage Patch? Eriksen emphasizes the importance of stopping the flow of trash into our bodies of water. These gyres are almost impossible to clean out because they do not form a solid base of trash. Eriksen also suggests cleaning up beaches as quickly as possible to prevent trash from entering or returning to the water. Another solution — collective reduction in individual plastic consumption — would also help create cleaner bodies of water.
In the meantime, the 5 Gyres Institute plans expeditions into the southern hemisphere to look for more trash.
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  • Indeed San Fran often takes the lead in these types of efforts, and good on them! I''ve worked with several Maritime teams out of San Fran for many clean-up and restoration projects throughout the Pacific Rim.

    I loved that animated Penguin movie where the the penguin got stuck in the 6-pack ring; it really got the point across!

    On Hawaii's beaches we feed the sea birds so to catch them and remove the fishing line from around their feet. I would say that about 50% have lost at least one foot, or part thereof; many chew off thier own leg to get rid of the line and debris attached to it. The saddest thing was feeding a seagul with almost no legs left.. he landed on my beach towel, on tiny stumps, he ate, then sat there all day until the wind picked up at sunset; only then was he was able to catch enough wind to lift him up off the ground and into flight. It might have been more merciful to put him down... well, at least he had a good meal, and some loving care on that day.
  • Indeed Teresa/Irma;
    Yes you are correct, and currently the only "key" seems to be for all of us seriously consider ONLY purchasing recycled plaatic goods (when appropraite & available)... for our homes and communities. My community (after much belaboring on my part) is now only purchasing recycled/recyclable goods for the parks: i.e. picnic tables, boardwalks, railings, even bathroom stall walls & sinks, etc (instead of wood, and expensive metals). It's a start!
  • Mahatma Ghandi said the following:

    Be the change you want to see in the world.
  • This is absolutely vile! What a sin against Mother earth. We pollute everything. No wonder the aliens aren't so keen about keeping us from phasing out. We don't deserve any better. We're like locust, destroying everything in our path - shame on us. :(
  • we are disgusting.
  • Dr Seuss had a famous saying:
    Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get Better. It's not
  • Ha ha, that was great action Karen! And it brought results!
  • Karen Lee, that's awesome! So one person can change the world! Although I'm aware that it is all of our responsibility, you think you're doing a good job then you see photos and stories like this and realize - you're not doing enough.
  • Great post Irma, Thank You!!!

    My thoughts and activities: Although it may be the "fault" of 'litter bugs" it IS EVERYONES responsibility to help find a solution. Some of this litter is indeed due to carelessness, but unfortunately much trash is loosened accidentally, then is simply windblown, or washed to the sea. Obviously it takes many people to prevent and (constantly) clean up this type of mess, and we must all work together to find effective solutions; one of my bigger litter projects is detailed below.

    The real problem is that when litter becomes "anonymous", no one feels responsible for it. We are part of a community, so you're either part of the solution or your part of the problem; and apathy isn't a solution! Just because one refuses to accept responsibility for a problem, does not change the fact that one is responsible.

    Several decades ago, (in Hawaii, Florida and Australia) I started a "recycling program" of a different sort... We (all the local surfers/windsurfers/sailors) would gather the litter on the beach everyday, and we'd return it daily to the entity who's logo was stamped on the piece of trash. Most of the trash belonged to fast food joints near the beach, or to CokeCola/Pepsi/Sunkist, so it was a relatively easy task to sort it and return it to it's "original owner". At first the businesses owners filed charges against us for trespassing and sanitation violations for entering their business with garbage (which we handed over to the manager personally). Then they charged us for "illegal dumping" for using their businesses garbage cans and dumpster's! They simply didn't feel responsible for the litter that their customers left behind! Of course, we filed charges "littering" against them anyway. We defended ourselves, and prosecuted them by filling the courtroom with 100's bags of sandy, waterlogged "evidence" with their business name on it! It was quite a battle for almost a year, (but being waterlogged "rebels" who lived on the beach/boats; were were happy to host "sand wars" over someone else's garbage)!

    Our persistence paid off; it spawned more trash cans (and picnic-tables) at each business location; and court ordered "mediation" helped instigate corporate level "litter prevention" programs, paid for by major corporations (Mc Donalds, BK, Starbucks, Coke Pepsi, and many more). Several Corps expanded the program by sponsoring trash cans and regular garbage pick-up at the local beaches, scenic points, and tourist stops too. Eventually they ran TV, Radio and print ads around the world! And soon our beaches/parks "litter" problem was solved (for the most part). Our small "local battle" was certainly worth the worldwide results!

    So please, join up with some of the clubs or organizations in your area, not only to "pick up litter" but also to reach a bit further to find a more effective "solutions" to the problem!
  • I agree, very disgusting! And good way to put it, Joan (re: earth is about to throw up and purge itself).
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