How do humans impact the ocean? - Lesson Two

• Social Studies
• History
• +3
• 5th,6th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 11th,12th Grade

Introduction

Lesson Two – How does plastic pollution impact the ocean? This lesson covers:  What is plastic pollution?  What is abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD) fishing gear?  Why is plastic an issue? Learning activities:  Explain ALD fishing gear.  Research what fishing gear is made of.  Discuss what will happen if we don’t stop plastic pollution.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 2 - How does plastic pollution impact the ocean?

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. 

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Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

What is ocean pollution?

In the previous lesson we discussed what makes up the ocean ecosystem. Now we are going to start looking at some of the human impacts on the ocean. Reflect on the different aspects of the ocean ecosystem and how each issue will impact it.
Ask students “What type of pollution do you think you will find in the ocean?”
Ocean pollution comes in many different forms, from chemicals, oil spills, noise pollution, fishing gear, wood, metal, glass, paper to plastics.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

PLASTICS

Up to 90% of marine debris is believed to be plastic based.

There are many different forms of pollution in the ocean, the one that we will focus on in this lesson is plastics.
There are actually thousands of types of plastics made today, all with a specific purpose in mind.   Most are made from chemical substances that, when submerged in water, leach chemicals into the environment.  
Up to 90% of marine debris is believed to be plastic based.
Discuss what items made of plastic could end up in the ocean. Eg. Food packaging, takeaway containers, coffee cups, straws, plastic bags, plastic bottles, cigarette butts.

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

How do we contribute to plastic in the ocean?

There are different ways plastic ends up in the ocean. Let’s focus on some of our daily routines and see how these contribute to plastic pollution in the ocean:

    Not disposing of plastic items properly – Dropping them on the ground or leaving them at beaches, to eventually wash into rivers and the ocean.

    A lot of clothing is partially made of plastic. When these clothes are washed, small pieces of plastic start to break off and are washed down the drain. These are called microfibers.
    Micro beads are used in products like facial cleansers, scrubs, shower gels and toothpaste.  It is likely that when cleaning your teeth, you are washing plastic beads down the drain.  Some countries are now banning micro beads and demand natural alternatives to be used.
    Glitter also washes straight down the drain and into the ocean harming marine wildlife. There are non-plastic alternatives that can be used instead.

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

How do we contribute to plastic in the ocean?

Ask students if there are other ways they might be contributing to plastic in the ocean?
    Items from container ships lost overboard.
    Items and waste dumped overboard by cruise ships and other leisure vessels.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

ABANDONED, LOST & DISCARDED FISHING GEAR

• Abandoned – means deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear, intentionally left behind.
• Discarded – deliberate disposal of fishing gear. Damaged or illegal gear thrown overboard before heading to port.
• Lost – means accidental lost at sea, for instance during a storm.

Do you know there is a direct link between the fish we eat and plastic pollution in the ocean?
Fishing nets are made from plastic materials, and often lost or dumped in the ocean.
Abandoned, Lost and Discarded (ALD) fishing gear makes up a significant portion of plastic in the ocean.
Researchers found that around 46% of plastic in the North Pacific gyre is from commercial fishing gear. Globally over a fifth of the plastic in the ocean comes from commercial fishing gear.
What does ALD mean?
    Abandoned – means deliberate non retrieval of fishing gear, intentionally left behind.
    Discarded – deliberate disposal of fishing gear. Damaged or illegal gear thrown overboard before heading to port.
    Lost – means accidental lost at sea, for instance during a storm.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

HOW MUCH PLASTIC IS ENTERING THE OCEAN?

640,000 tons of ALD fishing gear each year.

Over 12 million tons trash each year = one garbage truck every 40 seconds.

640,000 tonnes of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear ends up in the ocean each year.
Each year over 12 million metric ton of trash finds its way into the ocean. This is the equivalent of at least one garbage truck full of plastic rubbish being dumped into the ocean every 40 seconds. (That is 788,400, garbage trucks of rubbish every year, at approx 15.2 tonnes per truck).
The amount of rubbish polluting the ocean is still increasing. In the coming years this might even be two garbage trucks a minute. This is fatal for marine wildlife that either ingests or gets entangled in the rubbish.

One of the risks of plastic pollution is that marine wildlife may mistake it for food and will eat.
Marine wildlife naturally is not familiar with plastic. Can you image being a baleen whale feeding on krill and fish, but also scooping up plastic bags and other rubbish.
Show this video (1.33mins) and then discuss how it makes the students feel, realizing this is what marine wildlife are putting up with every day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0_8vBijO1s&t=6s

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

Scientific studies show:

• 44% of marine mammals

• 86% of turtle species
• 80% of seabird species ingest plastic

99% of the world's seabird species will be ingesting plastic by 2050

Scientific studies on plastic pollution are revealing frightening results:
    44% of marine mammals and 86% of turtle species are estimated to have plastic in their stomach.
    80% of seabird species ingest plastic,
99% of the world's seabird species will be ingesting plastic by 2050 if the current rate of marine pollution is not stopped.

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.