Jornal de Biologia Marinha e Oceanografia

Plastic Waste in the Cold Marine Environment

Sophie Jones

Coastal tourism, fishing, maritime industries, and the manufacturing of plastic products are the main contributors of synthetic plastic trash in the marine environment, all of which have a direct influence on seas and oceans. Also important is the indirect path of plastic dispersion into the marine ecosystem. Pollutants from the cosmetics industry and houses penetrate rivers and drainage systems before reaching the seas and oceans, which could explain why there is more plastic near the beaches and river estuaries.