Abstract
Although the phenomenon of marine plastic debris is now widely recognized as a problem for the international community, significant gaps in understanding still inhibit the creation and implementation of effective policy responses. This paper reviews the state of scientific knowledge about the causes and consequences of marine plastic debris, including its sources, pathways, composition, location, and impacts on ecosystems and human activities. Much remains unknown about the large scale impacts of plastic debris on ecosystem functions and human health, among other information gaps. Additional scientific research about the nature, extent, and harms of marine plastic debris could increase the political salience of the problem, and produce urgent and focused attention on the formulation of solutions. Although many policy responses have been proposed, and even pursued, additional research could assist in the prioritization of the most cost-effective strategies. The research agenda outlined would support a more detailed and comprehensive assessment of the nature of the problem of marine plastic debris, and inform the creation and implementation of effective solutions.
Highlights
Large amounts of plastic debris have been entering the ocean for many decades, yet only recently has this phenomenon been recognized as a major problem by the international community
More research can clarify the impacts of marine plastic debris, which ensures that the issue remains politically salient [4]
This article surveys what is known about marine plastic debris, in order to identify areas of uncertainty that inhibit the formation of a clear, coherent, and consensus-based understanding of the problem
Summary
Large amounts of plastic debris have been entering the ocean for many decades, yet only recently has this phenomenon been recognized as a major problem by the international community. Knowledge about the precise causes of harm, including the sources and pathways of plastics in the marine environment, informs the creation of targeted and maximally effective interventions. This article surveys what is known about marine plastic debris, in order to identify areas of uncertainty that inhibit the formation of a clear, coherent, and consensus-based understanding of the problem. The first section considers the sources, pathways, locations, and composition of plastic debris sinks in the ocean. The second section addresses the reasons marine plastic debris is understood to be a pollution problem, and identifies the research still needed to establish the full scope of negative consequences for marine ecosystems and human uses of the ocean. The overall goal is to outline an agenda for future research on marine plastic debris
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