Industrial Fishing: The Main Source of Plastic in the Pacific

When the plastic pollution of the oceans is discussed, public perception often focuses on bottles, bags, and other household waste. However, recent studies have revealed a surprising reality: over 75% of the plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from fishing gear.

The Ocean Cleanup Study

In 2022, The Ocean Cleanup published a study in Scientific Reports analyzing the composition of waste in the GPGP (Great Pacific Garbage Patch). Researchers found that between 75% and 86% of plastic debris originates from fishing and aquaculture activities. The most common items include buoys, fish crates, nets and ropes.

Plastic lost at sea has a higher chance of accumulating offshore compared to plastic entering from rivers. These findings indicate that industrial fishing practices are the major contributors to plastic pollution in the oceans.

What Is This Waste Made Of?

Researchers analyzed more than 6,000 plastic items larger than 5 cm collected in the GPGP. About one-third were unidentifiable fragments. The remaining two-thirds were mostly fishing-related items, such as floats, buoys, fish crates, buckets, containers, and eel traps.

These tools are specifically designed to be durable and to float, making them especially persistent in the marine environment.

Industrial Fishing: The Main Source of Plastic in the Pacific. A plastic box from Japan
A plastic box from Japan

Where Does This Waste Come From?

By examining labels and markings on the items, researchers identified the main countries of origin: Japan and China, each accounting for about one-third of the debris; South Korea ( about 15%); the United States (about 5%); and Taiwan (about 3%).

This data indicates that the primary sources of plastic pollution in the GPGP are industrial fishing fleets from high-income countries.

A young loggerhead sea turtle caught in a tangle of drifting ropes, nets and fishing lines
A young loggerhead sea turtle caught in a tangle of drifting ropes, nets and fishing lines

Environmental Implications

Plastic and microplastic represent a serious threat to many marine animals. They are often mistaken for natural prey — such as jellyfish or plankton — and accidentally ingested. In addition, ropes, lines, and other plastic debris can become deadly traps for sea turtles and cetaceans: many become entangled, sometimes losing a limb, but more often dying as a result.

Moreover, abandoned fishing gear, known as “ghost nets,” continues to be a trap and kill marine animals long after being lost. This phenomenon has a devastating impact on marine ecosystems, contributing to the drastic decline of fish, turtle, and seabird populations.

Proposed Solutions

To overcome this issue, the researchers proposed several ways:

  • Enforcing stricter regulations on the use and disposal of fishing gear
  • Promoting gear traceability to identify its origin
  • Encouraging the recovery and recycling of discarded equipment
  • Strengthening international cooperation to tackle marine pollution at its source

This investigation highlights the importance of recognizing the fishing industry as a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution. Addressing this crisis requires a joint effort by governments, industries, and citizens to protect our seas.

A group of Blue Conservancy volunteers after a morning of beach cleaning
A group of Blue Conservancy volunteers after a morning of beach cleaning

The Role of Blue Conservancy

For over ten years, during the summer season, Blue Conservancy has organized beach cleaning activities with the help of volunteers from all over Europe to remove plastic from shorelines. The results are often astonishing — we find materials of every kind. That’s why we launched our Plastic Pollution monitoring project: because we want to understand which materials have the greatest impact on our beaches.

Additionally, Blue Conservancy has always been committed to raising public awareness about the importance of ocean conservation and to promoting sustainable fishing practices. Through educational campaigns and collaborations with local communities, we work to reduce the impact of plastic on marine ecosystems.