The Other Source: Where does plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch really come from?

[@saipien2868]

I live in the south Pacific, and have been watching your videos for some months now...now everytime I see someone trying to throw rubbish into the sea, I show them your videos, that these rubbish just don't disappear, they end up accumulating somewhere, and there actually people out there spending tons of money, time and effort trying to fix this problem. Unfortunately, we still so much to do in educating our folks not to use the sea as dumping ground...we have a long way to go...but I feel grateful for these men and women doing this work.

[@ศิริญญาทองไชย]

Well

[@girasol096]

These kinds of studies are so important! Thank you for both asking the right questions and educating the rest of us

[@TheEnabledDisabled]

I have seen people say how this project is a waste of time, because of either microplastic or big companies, but why cant we just be happy that everyone is working on fixing each problem that we have created? This project is not the end all be all, it just one cog in the machine to clean the world of plastic and making sure we dont do the same mistake, So thank you Ocean Cleanup for doing your part in restoring our important oceans

[@mtthriller03]

Exactly - Big problems require many solutions.

[@TropicalOceanCleanup]

You are spot on, but we need more everyones working on this. This just show the importance of river trash barriers, stop it all before it gets out in the ocean and sinks!

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

@@mtthriller03 agree

[@darthgbc363]

Please continue your research & present your findings. Stay open source & open minded. Thank you for choosing to tackle this huge problem.

[@ButterflyMatt]

Thank you for addressing this. So many people think mainland littering is flowing offshore and creating that problem. The first cleanup video I saw opened my eyes. Totes (fishing), jugs (fishing floats), floats (fishing), line (fishing), and on and on.

[@PlasticBubbleCosplay]

This is interesting -- I still like the idea of cleaning rivers and perhaps also major currents, and also encouraging recycling.

[@Fidelis_IX]

I am not so sure about the fishing gear ratio, because the results can be expected to be highly biased about what debris is still swimming and still huge enough to get collected by nets (surviver bias). And in terms of that fishing gear has an advantage, because it's directly dumped there.

[@RS265cup]

@@Fidelis_IX does it matter ? it's not supposed to float in the ocean.

[@Fidelis_IX]

@@RS265cup That's correct. I just wanted to get that point about the possible bias considered before easy and fast conclusions are made

[@araelenecaletti1665]

Yes. Its about education. Guatamala

[@TropicalOceanCleanup]

What a great video and research. But makes me worry even more, oh there is so much plastics and trash entering the ocean from rivers and canals here in the Philippines. But this research shows the majority of it sinks. We have six river trash Kabooms here on Camiguin island and a new one that is half done. This video makes me want to work even harder now to get more rivers protected. I could use some help, when you coming to the Philippines?

[@colleeneggertson2117]

Very impressed with the great work you at Tropical Ocean Cleanup are doing on Camiguin Island to divert debris including plastics from canals that lead to the ocean so that the debris can be dealt with appropriately. From your videos I learned that organic materials are being allowed to go on to the ocean the way they would naturally, and you take away other garbage, including plastics, for proper disposal.

[@findbluesky]

I'm not surprised by the percentage of fishing gear you found, its got to be one of the only industries who operate almost exclusively by throwing plastic into the ocean in the first place.

[@davestagner]

This really changes my understanding of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch versus coastal plastic. Thank you for your wonderful work!

[@remasterus]

You guys are putting so much thought and care into this, it's just absolutely incredible to see.

[@ldqa2737]

The progress your teams have made is wonderful! I was excited to see the river clean up initiative thrive as well. ❤️‍🔥 Plastics need to be reconsidered and/or replaced.

[@davidmiller661]

I completely agree! Not so long ago we used paper bags and glass bottles. These still exists but most company have switched entirely to plastic because it's cheap.

[@jeffcampbell4499]

Thank you for your excellent research, work and awareness raising! I also watch a few youtube sailing channels. If only every single youtube sailing channel would join together in supporting and promoting The Ocean Cleanup, they would help raise so much awareness, and hopefully advocacy, among their viewers, that could bring together far more numbers to make a much greater difference in partnership with The Ocean Cleanup. I will mention this constructively in comments to the sailing channels that I watch regularly.

[@williamfischer8867]

I keep making comments on the same issue.When manufacturing the nets install metal tags with a registration number. This way you can see the name of the company that purchased it. Also send the fine for not being responsible for their equipment.

[@leonardomathias4469]

This is a beaultiful and extremely important project. It's fantastic see you addressing this topic, changing concepts and being able to put your focus on the real roots causes! congratulations for effort and results reached until now! This is amazing 👏

[@ThatTimeTheThingHappened]

I believe people have known about this for a while but there’s a huge amount of control by the fishing industry that’s stopping this information from being public. So… thanks for the work you guys are doing, but I bet this brings a lot of litigation your way! I wouldn’t be surprised if this video gets taken down.

[@JB-oz6ng]

When I was very young I went on a small commercial fishing boat in the 90s. Every piece of rubbish they created was thrown overboard. They didn’t even hesitate.

[@joyindrelie6715]

What a great balance of concern and sensitivity about sources of this gear!

[@darylovaltine]

That gear is intentionally discarded, it’s not lost or cut free for safety it’s thrown overboard because it’s become tangled or otherwise broken and the crew and captain take the easiest option. This video and research shows us the GPGP is mainly caused by the fishing industry and their lack of care.

[@mdranglers4645]

Good story and nice to see the effort to understand the problem faced. Every effort to reduce stuff in the wrong place (Trash) is worth it. Lovely to see the fish out on the patches of debris however. Like the Dorado etc.

[@deborahriley1166]

So very deeply grateful for you all!!! It’s extremely important to pinpoint the sources. If an American throws something out their car window. They can receive a ticket that requires payment. Financial incentives for the fishing industry to pull it together, may have to be an option. 🙏☯️🙏☯️🙏

[@JoyfulWisdom]

I like your profoundly scientific approach to researching the origins of plastic debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

[@alansolomon5527]

Awesome, informative video describing the best solution to cleaner, healthier and natural oceans. Thank you for ALL the great work and effort you and your team provides solving this long-time crisis. Of course, the ocean water, the fish and other ocean inhabitants thank you too. 👍

[@scottbellingham4591]

I hope that fisheries are contributing to your work. Losing gear is inevitable but they should be helping to fund retrieval.

[@chriswatson3464]

If it's inevitable then it shouldn't be done. Alternatives include sea vegetables, seed oils, algae, rope grown oysters and mussels and more.

[@alixena9340]

I lived in NorthWest Scotland a few years ago. Along the beach there I spent two days picking up small (around 2-5cm) lengths of plastic rope which were used in fishing nets. These small pieces are disgarded by the fishers when they are repairing their nets at the small harbours, they cut the small pieces of net to repair it then just disgard those small pieces, to end up in the water. They don't seem to care about where it ends up. Back decades (and centuries) ago the nets were made from natural fibre ropes which dispersed and rotted in the water and so was not an issue. The fishers have continued their practises but not changed the way they deal with the small pieces when they changed over to the polyprop rope. Education is needed for these fishers, but also means for them to actually dispose of their waste needs to be introduced. Some invention and money spent on these smaller industries, such as local fishing harbours would be a good thing.

[@vincewhite5087]

Good to see the different areas -Coastal vs garbage patch.

[@LloydsofRochester]

Thank you. This is exactly the kind of information that interests me. Cure is important, but prevention will ultimately obviate the need for it, if we can finally control the sources.

[@gardenjoy5223]

IF you can prevent tsunamis.

[@pickuptrash]

Thank you for your work! Please keep going!

[@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron]

Yo, Pick up trash! Well said. The migration of trash is very interesting.

[@pickuptrash]

@@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron Absolutely, thanks!

[@ismasyariffsalleh6900]

I think the authorities in 'fishing' industry should count the amount of plastic that fishmen bring to the sea & count back when they return. It's look hassle to them but that myb the best way as in my country, when someone went for hiking in national park area, the authorities will count the plastic we bring & count back when we return.

[@yohan9577]

Thank you for all what you're doing. Keep up the good work. Cheers

[@araelenecaletti1665]

I hope. Some body like boyan slat. Teams to look at beaches. Guatamala. Money is needed plus professional a for that river. Teams need to act. As. The beaches are CHOKE d. Not sure if i locals clean up.guatamala

[@TheLeeattwood]

Sad to see you only have 230k subscribers when someone who paints finger nails has millions, sad state of affairs. Great job everyone. ❤

[@dsoares6500]

The number of subscribers its an approximate reflection of the number of people who admire the project and what it represents. Millions engage with frivolities and useless things, when subscribing and liking positivity initiatives would already help the channel.

[@gillie-monger3394]

Wow! This is the first time I've known that these are basically two different issues. I've just taken it for granted that the GPGP is the result of land waste and that the fishing industry is a bit-part player. But 75% +/-!? That's huge!

[@recumbentrocks2929]

These people only do this kind of work becuase they care about the planet. I noticed they try not to point a finger at any one country but show we are all causing this by our life style. Great job.

[@AZmountains]

Important work you are doing. Continue to educate us and promote solutions.

[@sofiesdeco118]

You guys are doing a great job! It's great that you also give valuable information of the source and origins of the plastic that you find in the ocean. You guys are heroes.

[@guym6093]

Very Interesting Two thumbs UP! Not what I expected yet answers many questions.

[@solarenergynow08]

These plastic items should be used as proof in court to indict corporate polluters.

[@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron]

This is a very interesting study. I deal with a lot of single use plastics and Styrofoam that wash into the environment through storm drain systems. I've noticed a pattern of how plastics and Styrofoam accumulate in certain debris fields. One debris field will be heavily saturated in plastic bottles and balls while another nearby debris field will be mostly filled with Styrofoam... etc. This is an important and fascinating study. Thank you!

[@nelsonsoares2975]

Thanks to Ocean Cleanup & others like them world wide & Thank you to you to for your important work & input into this very important & serious matter that affects all life on the planet including us humans, something else our governments & their corporation-company friends should be correcting & helping more to clean & stop plastic being served-bought by us consumers but like many times before they have dropped the ball on again, such a shame that we are turning this miracle planet into a garbage planet, they only listen when they stop making money . If plastic was gold there would be no garbage patch that is a FACT.

[@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron]

@@nelsonsoares2975 You hit all the nails on the head! So true. And Thank you!! It takes a village. The Ocean Cleanup is absolutely the eyes and ears of the oceans plastics & litter catastrophe.

[@Og-Judy]

@@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron there's a bunch of plastic dumped off garbage shows that has absolutely nothing to do with fishing.

[@HonorTrees]

It appears that, like attracts like, is a natural law that affects everything.

[@TakingtheTRASHOUTwithAaron]

@@Og-Judy 95% of the trash I clean up from the local creeks, river and ocean shore is not fishing related. I tend to find mostly trash that washes in from the street level. This study is really interesting.

[@davidmartenot2492]

Thank you all for caring, making a mark on creation that was given and many won’t see.

[@noninoni9962]

I think the Indian Ocean 2004 tsunami, PLUS the 2011 tsunami off the east coast of Japan, contributed a lot to the size, not just "litter" from individuals... Japan being a fishing community, would account for the fishing stuff.

[@Bear-yh6cv]

Amazing work, thank you to the whole team for starting to undo the damage we have all done. God bless you all!

[@BalboaBaggins]

Does The Ocean Cleanup also consider diving cleanups (in the future)?

[@ryanzacsanders]

very nice comment, I like your thoughts but that's extremely expensive.. let them push surface cleaning first and then they might be able to go further down.

[@skyewhiteman6783]

@@ryanzacsanders Divers would want to volunteer to do that. I know I would, recreational diving is so expensive.

[@lvn968]

Keep it going ! YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK ! THANKS to ALL of you !

[@Isthiyaquekambathagothi]

Always love to see the progress of The Ocean Clean-up.. always wish I could be a part of it.. or could do something similar for people our Island, Spread awareness , educate

[@theoceancleanup]

We appreciate your support! There are many ways you can help our mission - you can become a Citizen Scientist with our Ocean- and River Plastic Survey apps, share our mission with your network, join our team, or start a Facebook Fundraiser. Find more tips here: theoceancleanup.com/faq/how-can-i-help-the-ocean-cleanup-as-an-individual/

[@BalboaBaggins]

What's wrong in litter picking yourself?

[@A_Cunning_Linguist]

If garbage from fishing is an issue then fishing should pay 80% of the costs involved in the cleanup... same as Guatemala, if they can't pay then supply labor from the people dumping their cap into the rivers. Easy peasy

[@visitingdublin]

Great video, good find out that there is a scientific approach to this issue.

[@GoSolarPlz]

I signed up as a monthly donor! Please keep up the amazing work!

[@BLAISEDAHL96]

WOW. Thank you for making this! Everyone share share share this video

[@orchidrose1410]

If 80% of the plastic is coming from the fishing industry, they should be paying 80% of the cost of this operation. Its not very hard to prove which fisheries and countries are responsible. And if they were fronting 80% of the bill for this, just imagine how many more of these systems we could implement, we could cut our ocean plastic DRASTICALLY! It could work if we went at this like this; all countries that have rivers that empty into the ocean take care of their rivers, and all fishing corps take care of the oceans. Or, raise the taxes on fishing corps. Cities could utilize tax money that usually goes to stupid stuff, like new office furniture every year for politicians, ballooning yearly salaries, out-of-control military spending, or the cities where the rivers meet the ocean are located could increase local taxes as well. It wouldn't be that difficult seeing as how we already have working collection systems in place now that are solely be funded by donation. Global governments would just have to care.

[@jagadeeshs6878]

Thank you team for your wonderful work.

[@gregbors8364]

I heard that every year on Halloween, the Great Garbage rises up from the garbage patch and gives disposable plastic gifts to all the good little boys and girls, or something

[@dobbyi3417]

So großen Dank an euch für eure Arbeit und Mühen. Wir müssen es schaffe unseren Planeten zu retten 🙏

[@marcofella3584]

Truly the most inspiring project on earth!

[@catherinetarte6423]

Amazing. Keep up the awesome work

[@musicbycandlelightmbc3225]

Every single corporation that deals with, creates with, and fabricated with plastic materials should have all of their CEO's out onto the oceans and beaches and everywhere else cleaning up their own damn sht. Unfortunately, not a single one cares because to them, only profit is of value and interest. As for the fishing industry, they need to be fined millions of dollars for their irresponsible negligence to clean up after themselves. Civilians that carelessly throw their plastics onto the side of the road, forest, lakes, rivers, etc, should be fined and imprisoned for a set duration then sent out as part of probationary community work to clean up every single plastic item they find.

[@udishomer5852]

There may be some way to "stamp" each piece of fishing equipment with the boat's ID, so we can identify the culprits. At least for industrial fishing this may be feasible.

[@thejusrajh1312]

Great work done sir .May god be with you

[@davidmunoz8171]

So what they're saying [tldr] is, the N.P.G.P is caused by developed, 1st world countries' industries (largely fishing), using products from Asian countries (most likely because these companies have stricter laws in their country of origin so they opt to create sweatshops in less developed countries as their source of manufacturing... but this is just a tangent topic). The other form of oceanic pollution is from consumers themselves. Yes, the majority from less developed countries with little to no waste policies but it is worth mentioning as this is a world wide origin. Although these pollutants don't enter the deep waters and remain on shores, they are just as important to point out and find ways to eliminate them as those from the N.P.G.P. At the end of the day it is true when it's stated that consumers and individuals are just as responsible for the water's pollution and should be educated on recycling as well as the companies manufacturing these products.

[@Pete-z6e]

It’s not where the plastic items are made, it’s who throws it into the sea or rivers.

[@noeraldinkabam]

It’s easy to deduce: when you’re poor you’re not gonna discard your stuff as easy as when you’re rich. A 100 dollar item owned by somebody that barely makes a living is a totally different object to multi nationals.

[@keithwhite5657]

Your doing a fantastic job ocean cleanup 👍

[@olgakraus3368]

Thank you so much for the job you are doing ❤️

[@raghuv8445]

Kudos to the team ❤❤

[@smiller2114]

I wonder if we can make them use specific dye lots for each country?

[@seabassmcbigfat]

This work is beyond important.

[@portzir]

What a super interesting video! It tells much about integrity that you keep researching and analyzing and questioning your assumptions

[@Kessoku]

Indonesia! hurray, we did it guys! 😍

[@marionmeyer326]

Thanks for your Work ❤️🙏

[@lkelly4337]

Thank you for doing this work!!

[@gmanova]

this project is amazing.

[@ThisIsToolman]

Real forensics. Great.

[@russneho]

Very interesting, keep it up.

[@martyminus90]

Keep up the good work!!

[@dltmdwnfkdldjs]

fishing industry needs to step up as well.

[@etiennelouw9244]

In South Africa there are informal settlements next to rivers and the people dump straight into the rivers, when floods come it all washes out to sea.

[@letsfish808]

I went diving yesterday and cleaned up the ocean of hair ties and other things that some people litter it’s sad but me and my girl cleans it some one has to do it

[@sanidhyatrivedi4689]

You are doing such a great job 👏

[@marcelx8369]

While seeing the results of this study, i am wondering, how much of the plastic since the 80's and 90's has sank to the bottom of the ocean. Or, where is the rest of old plastic? Did it sunk? How does the bottom Look like? A fast step could be to introduce decomposable crates in the fishing industry. It might cost more and is Not so endurable, but i doesnt pollute that much.

[@gardenjoy5223]

So it decomposes into microplastics? No, thank you.

[@billjensen51]

good work

[@nicklang7670]

Amazing work. I love the research you are doing, it will create more awareness on the plastic pollution problem. I have been switching to reusables and certified compostables at local small independent stores, it disheartening to me to see so many big grocery stores not doing the same.

[@AgentFascinateur]

Plastic needs to be broken down at the local level, by shredders at waste management centres and repurposed through industrial 3D printers. If we lobby plastic producers to follow a more universal formula, plastics will be sought after rather than discarded, because of the potential for constructive re-use until we can phase out eventually of our dependency.

[@troystewart7730]

Since coke and Pepsi own the garbage patch- we should charge 25cents recycle every bottle with drinkable beverages not dairy. 12 pack and extra $3bucks. Those who don’t return for their quarter can throw it away. Homeless everywhere will benefit and THEY WILL TURN EVER BOTTLE IN

[@ryanzacsanders]

@@troystewart7730 as dairy is one big killer of animals and the environment we should charge 2 euro/dollar extra for its negative impact on society and the planet 👍

[@troystewart7730]

@@ryanzacsanders you would i up end everything we have for recycle. It’s not is dairy good or bad. It’s we don’t charge for gallon milk jugs. Should we? Maybe. But single use disposable packaging is a bigger issue that you can’t put a price to reuse

[@Falconhunter276]

The biggest hurdle with recycling pretty much any form of plastic is that it takes such a huge amount of sorting and separating that it's financially unsustainable. Another elephant in the recycling debate is the poor quality of plastic produced by recycling. This either leads to the recycled object being dumped again, landfill or otherwise, or having to use 'virgin' plastic in with recycled plastics to up the quality of the products. This recycling myth has been purported and heralded by big plastic users, Coca, Pepsi etc, along with the big oil companies so they can keep their rich fat cat shareholders richer. Stop producing plastic, stop using plastic, carry on with a global wide clean up.

[@troystewart7730]

@@Falconhunter276 they did successfully prove with sunglasses

[@maksymrohanin4218]

Thank you much for your work!

[@John-zi4ii]

Awesome ! 😊 "GO OCEAN CLEANUP 2024" ! 😊

[@hansmaulwurf6805]

Thanks for these facts!

[@PaulThomasV]

POPs (persistent organic pollutants such as PCBs and organochlorine pesticides) are accumulated in resin pellets (plastic raw material) from the surrounding seawater by a factor of millions. Similar accumulation occurs with broken plastic fragments in the ocean. Are the fragments also tested on POPs?

[@robertscrimger6044]

I would like to know if trash from sit down restaurants is the source of plastic straws in the sea. A dine in restaurant buses tables, discards trash in a trash bin, and delivers it to a landfill. I would like fast food restaurants or take away plastic gets improperly discarded more often. Still fast food restaurants are exempt, while dine in restaurants have banned straws. Seems backwards or incomplete to me.

[@zen370865]

Great job!

[@TigreDemon]

Can you talk about microplastics as well ?

[@joannakim5624]

You should do an exhibition of all the garbage collected. Lay them all out in front of Louvre or times square

[@gt40f]

I did some voluntary cleanup on water shorelines and the main thing I found was single use water bottles and plastic grocery bags

[@808zhu]

THANK YOU!

[@beachchickensmedia]

so inspiring! i want to help some how!

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Amazing thank you for amazing job that you are doing best wishes

[@tubehound8]

Go Ocean Cleanup. Stay safe

[@danzingcat5949]

great finding

[@Saxofaxo]

great work!

[@francissurinejr9263]

I'm sorry but : why are you trying to clean up in that order?! If you intercept the sources with large sieves first instead of trying to scrape away what's already there, you might actually help the issue. Maybe you could hire a meteorologist so they can actually identify and navigator on a ship working with them to constantly be moving into the garbage. On the top of the sieve there has to be a pump and a duct system to filter microplastics. A recycling machine has to be above the sieve and have a storage behind the sieve that is just proportional to the sieve

[@francissurinejr9263]

Solution 2: trying to upgrade the collectors and sorting process to work on the boats may not work as intended. Theoretically a nuclear reactor could probably use the power of the sun to reverse polymerization back into petroleum. The collection process of the debris is easy because all that is required is a net that can allow sand to pass through. Like using a pool skim, but preferably lightning fast. when the net has been filled the rest of the process is automated. The sorting can't be as extensive and specific as the research has been. It should be : 1. Large containers and hard plastic, 2. Fragmented containers and soft plastic, 3. Microplastic extraction and single use plastic. The fact of the matter is: less is more.

[@atlanticocean8184]

Absolutely heartbreaking/awful humans have made this nightmare. Can’t believe the size of those monster trawlers destroying ocean seabeds and catching too much fish. All the billions of plastic pollution is just horrendous.

[@filmopfil]

great that you can discuss this question . i think maby fishing industry need more biologicaly disintegrated products and they have to just stop dump everything in the ocen , cz ou can clearly see they do .

[@KeiAKWs]

They already said that in the netflix-movie SeaSpiracy. Still video though 👍

[@horstnele]

Why don´t you show Images of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, you´re only showing small floating Items, why?

[@BetterYet]

Because it is not there. Not like they have tried to portray it.

[@theoceancleanup]

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest of the five known garbage patches in the ocean, located halfway between California and Hawaii. Although this area has a high density of plastic compared to the surrounding ocean, it still resembles more of a thin soup than a dense mass that a person could stand on. To learn more about the misconception of trash island, please visit theoceancleanup.com/trash-island/ You will also see photos of how GPGP actually looks like.

[@ChrisBigBad]

What about the ecosystems that inhabit the trash? there was green stuff on the trash and some fishies. I know, that naturally, they would not be there - as the trash would not be there. But would it make sense to create living spaces on purpose? Also: can you develop a drone-airplane that will find these blobs of fishing nets and mark them for collection with a small drone-boat that will drag them to the big ship for picking up?

[@rolandherenow3134]

Three days later: had this video been about the Kardashians or some other pointless social fascination, it would have garnered millions of views already. Sad, but true.

[@araelenecaletti1665]

Yes. You are so right. Oh the money some people have. But. Safety first. Boats needed plus plan. Plus trucks i saw 3 people only