Plastic waste
Plastic waste on World Data Ocean: a running collection of 2 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on plastic waste in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. A Global Hub for Ocean Intelligence 4 World Data Ocean is a centralized digital platform where researchers, scientists, and ocean enthusiasts converge to explore, analyze, and… New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around plastic waste, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything World Data Ocean is covering right now.
Sustainable marine ecosystem conservation in Pakistan and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 14
Pakistan’s 1,046 km coastline and extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) support vital livelihoods and marine biodiversity, now facing escalating pressures from climate change and human activity. A recent study rigorously assesses Pakistan’s marine environment, evaluating existing legal frameworks against international obligations like UNCLOS and SDG 14. Findings reveal untreated sewage as the primary pollutant (55%), alongside overfishing and coastal erosion.
Indices of reduced fish biomass, changes in fish biodiversity and seafloor macrolitter – implications for fisheries management in Sri Lanka
A longitudinal study utilizing fisheries acoustics and bottom trawl surveys from 1978-2018 reveals significant shifts in Sri Lankan waters. Data collected by the “Dr. Fridtjof Nansen” vessel indicate a drastic reduction in total fish biomass, declining from approximately 280,000-395,000 tons to 173,000 tons over four decades. Concurrent changes in fish biodiversity, including reduced average lengths for commercially important species, alongside increased macro-litter accumulation, underscore the urgent need for validated fisheries management plans and environmental action.