Page 5 - IB MAY 2017

Pacific Conversation:

Pacific Ocean or

Plastic Ocean?

In June this year, the Pacific islands are amplifying their voice at the United
Nations Ocean Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, focusing
on Sustainable Development Goal 14 – Life Below Water. This Pacific
Conversation raises awareness about Plastics and Marine Pollution, Conserve and sustainably use the
oceans, seas and marine resources
providing you with more information to help make a difference in our region. for sustainable development

Plastic in our Ocean
Did you know about a third of ship waste is just dumped at sea? That’s like saying one of every three bags of rubbish
is just tossed overboard. But throwing it ‘away’ doesn’t make it go away, especially if it’s plastic. A hundred years ago,
plastics barely existed. Today, most marine debris is plastic. This emerging threat hurts wildlife, changes ecosystems,
and can hurt us as well. Plastics have been found in the guts of fish that we eat. Plastics have been found in
phytoplankton, which produce almost half of the oxygen we breathe. Plastic is everywhere.

Plastic pollutes
Plastic hurts us, marine species and ocean health
1. 50% of birds and marine mammal species have eaten plastic
2. After 10 days, fish exposed to polystyrene have lower activity rates and don’t survive as well
3. Plastic can choke, starve, or entangle marine animals
4. The national fish consumption in Pacific islands is three to four times the global average
5. Fish makes up 50–90% of animal protein consumed by Pacific island people

Help save our Pacific Ocean
Big plastics break down into tiny microplastics, but they don’t go away
1. 85% of Pacific land-based litter is plastic
2. 37% of the waste dumped overboard by purse-seine vessels in the
Pacific Ocean is plastic
3. Globally, 6–12 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean each year
What can we do locally?
• Buy less plastic Join the Pacific Conversation
• Check your personal care products: if it has polyethylene, that’s plastic
• Say no to straws and plastic bags. Take your own cup and bag #SaveOurOcean
• Pack your lunch in washable containers #4PacIslands

PO Box 240
Apia, Samoa A resilient Pacific environment sustaining
+685 21929 our livelihoods and natural heritage in
sprep@sprep.org harmony with our cultures.
www.sprep.org