Microplastic Pollution

Abandoned, discarded equipment Image credit: Canva.com

Discarded equipment on King George Island. — Discarded equipment on King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Image credit: Loranchet

Antarctic mountain ocean and ice — Antarctic landscape Image credit: Canva.com

Antarctica and the Southern Ocean may appear to be a pristine wilderness, but some parts of this polar wilderness are visited by scientists, station support staff, fishing vessels, and over one hundred thousand tourists each year.

While some impacts of these activities are visible, others occur under water or in the atmosphere, and are not visible to the naked eye. Microplastics are among the most insidious of these invisible pollutants.

Microplastics are pieces of plastic less than 5mm long. Primary microplastics include microbeads, such as those found in some exfoliating scrubs and cosmetics, and fibres from synthetic fabrics. Secondary microplastics are created when larger plastic products such as fishing nets or plastic bags break down.

Microplastics are small but abundant.

Scientists have discovered microplastics across the Antarctic: in the surface waters and deep sea sediments of the Southern Ocean; in Antarctic snow; in the regurgitated food seabirds feed to their chicks, and in the feces of some Antarctic penguins.

Microplastics can be mistaken for food, or ingested accidentally by seabirds and other marine life.

They can scratch or irritate the esophagus, and fill the stomach without providing any nutrition, leading to starvation.

They can also affect fertility and behavior in some species (Source).

Antarctic krill (*Euphausia superba*) Image credit: Canva.com

Microplastics release toxic additives and can transmit invasive species, bacteria and viruses to marine organisms.

When ingested by a keystone species such as krill, the harmful impacts of microplastics may be transferred and magnified through the food web, affecting entire ecosystems (Source).

There are many unknowns about the impact of microplastics on living organisms, and the environment more broadly. Initial studies indicate that there is cause for concern, and more research is needed.

Download our infographics to learn more about microplastics:

Gray Water and Microplastics

Marine Paints and Microplastics

Antarctica flag redesigned by Graham Bartram. — The Antarctic flag, reimagined by designer of the original Antarctic flag Graham Bartram, shows how microplastics are now present in one the most remote places on Earth. The design was commissioned by ASOC member organization Agenda Antártica. Source https://www.antarcticaflagredesigned.org/

ASOC delegation at the ATCM in Kochi, India.

While some plastic pollution originates in Antarctica, much is transported from the northern latitudes by air and sea. To address microplastic pollution in Antarctica, we must address the problem of plastic pollution both locally and globally.

Negotiations are currently underway to develop a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty. ASOC supports a comprehensive approach that addresses the impacts of plastics across their life cycle.

Sign the petition from ASOC member organizations Agenda Antártica and Only One to demand a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

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MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION

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Now is the time to address the threat of microplastic pollution in Antarctica.

With the generous support of our supporters, ASOC will continue to equip governments with the best available science, and advocate for the highest level of protection for Antarctic ecosystems.

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Within the Antarctic Treaty System

Each year, representatives from over 50 nations gather to make decisions about the future of Antarctica.

ASOC attends this forum as an invited expert, representing our members and the broader global conservation community. We advocate for strong environmental protection for Antarctica, and a precautionary approach in the presence of scientific uncertainty.

At the 2024 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, ASOC submitted an Information Paper highlighting concerns about microplastic pollution.

ASOC will continue to raise concerns about the impacts of microplastic pollution on the Antarctic environment and ecosystems, and urge Parties to take a precautionary approach to this poorly understood form of pollution.

Read our 2024 Information Paper on microplastic pollution.

Read our 2019 Information Paper on microplastic pollution.

Within CCAMLR

ASOC monitors all issues that impact the Antarctic environment, including plastic pollution, fisheries management, biological prospecting and pirate fishing.

As the only official environmental NGO observer at CCAMLR meetings, we present science-based policy proposals and provide decision makers with reliable information on how to protect Antarctic wildlife and the environment.

This includes raising awareness of plastic waste streams that require additional regulation, such as abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear, ropes, and gray water.

Learn more about CCAMLR.

The Polar Code

The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) aims to promote safe practices and avoid environmental damage in the remote and sensitive polar regions.

ASOC continues to participate in international meetings where the Polar Code is on the agenda. We present decision-makers with policy papers backed by the best available science, advocating for strong protection for Antarctic marine ecosystems. This includes the effective regulation and management of plastic waste from abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear, ropes, gray water, and other sources.

Read about our campaign to strengthen the Polar Code.

Learn more about the Polar Code.

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is an agency of the United Nations charged with regulating global shipping, including the prevention of pollution from ships.

Within the IMO, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is the body responsible for addressing environmental issues related to shipping. This is done with reference to International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), adopted in 1978, which introduced legally binding measures to prevent pollution from ships.

Today, the discharge of any plastic waste into the ocean is prohibited*. However other significant sources of microplastics have been overlooked, such as gray water, antifouling paints, and polymer ropes, which can shed microplastic fragments and fibres while hauling.

ASOC continues to work with member and partner organizations at meetings of the IMO, to remind governments of the urgent need to regulate this harmful pollutant.

Read recent IMO submissions supported by ASOC:

MEPC 81-8-1 – Review of Action Plan and other sources of microplastics from ships.

MEPC 82-8-3 – IMO’s Action Plan illegal discharge of marine plastic litter from ships

MEPC 82-8-4 – Improving the understanding of the contribution of ships to marine plastic litter microplastics.

* Regulation 3.2 of MARPOL Annex V prohibits the discharge of all plastics into the sea.

Plastic pollution is a global problem, and microplastics are no exception.

Join ASOC as we call on decision makers globally to prioritize the prevention of plastic pollution, and work together to address this emerging threat to Antarctic ecosystems.

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