Life In A Plastic Ocean
We cannot solve climate change without protecting the ocean.
John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate
Life In A Plastic Ocean is an installation piece for the ChaShaMa Gala 2024 by Amanda Wu and C.Y. Ying Chen. This piece is highlighting the devastation of marine plastic as well as corals bleaching. Visitors can interact with the coral sculptures inside by picking up a clean plastic item from a basket outside and place it on or near the corals.
Below are some resources and information regarding addressed issues.
MARINE PLASTIC
1. There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every single year. (source)
2. Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution. Most plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, particularly disposable plastic items like food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles. It's estimated that 80% of the world's ocean plastics enter the ocean via rivers and coastlines, while the other 20% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, ropes, and fleets. (source)
3. Once created, plastic will stay around for hundreds – or even thousands – of years, in which time it can pollute and poison environments and the animals that inhabit them. (source)
CORAL REEFS
1. Since the beginning of 2023 and through mid-May 2024, mass coral bleaching has been confirmed in at least 62 countries and territories worldwide. (source)
2. Coral bleaching happens when corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Coral are bright and colorful because of microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae live within the coral in a mutually beneficial relationship, each helping the other survive. But when the ocean environment changes—if it gets too hot, for instance—the coral stresses out and expels the algae. As the algae leaves, the coral fades until it looks like it’s been bleached. If the temperature stays high, the coral won’t let the algae back, and the coral will die. (source)
3. 54 percent of all the reef areas on the planet have experienced bleaching-level heat stress in the past 365 days. And that number is increasing by 1 percent each week. (source)
THE OCEAN
1. Climate change is causing some serious changes in oceans, including temperature increase, sea level rise, and acidification. Oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere, and concurrently oxygen levels are decreasing. (source)
2. The ocean is storing an estimated 91 percent of the excess heat energy trapped in the Earth's climate system by excess greenhouse gases. (source)
3. 80 percent of life on Earth is found in the ocean. (source)
WHAT WE CAN DO
1. Read about the ocean on The Ocean Agency
2. Reduce your consumption of seafood and check to see if it sustainable by checking the seafood watch guide by the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.
3. Here are some ways to protect coral reefs from the Biosphere Foundation.
4. Learn more from organizations such as Ocean Conservancy , Oceana, and Sea Shepherd.
5. Watch documentaries to learn more, such as Seaspiracy, Chasing Coral, A Plastic Ocean.
Below are some resources and information regarding addressed issues.
MARINE PLASTIC
1. There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans, with a further 33 billion pounds of plastic entering the marine environment every single year. (source)
2. Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution. Most plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering, particularly disposable plastic items like food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, and bottles. It's estimated that 80% of the world's ocean plastics enter the ocean via rivers and coastlines, while the other 20% comes from marine sources such as fishing nets, ropes, and fleets. (source)
3. Once created, plastic will stay around for hundreds – or even thousands – of years, in which time it can pollute and poison environments and the animals that inhabit them. (source)
CORAL REEFS
1. Since the beginning of 2023 and through mid-May 2024, mass coral bleaching has been confirmed in at least 62 countries and territories worldwide. (source)
2. Coral bleaching happens when corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white. But there’s a lot more to it than that. Coral are bright and colorful because of microscopic algae called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae live within the coral in a mutually beneficial relationship, each helping the other survive. But when the ocean environment changes—if it gets too hot, for instance—the coral stresses out and expels the algae. As the algae leaves, the coral fades until it looks like it’s been bleached. If the temperature stays high, the coral won’t let the algae back, and the coral will die. (source)
3. 54 percent of all the reef areas on the planet have experienced bleaching-level heat stress in the past 365 days. And that number is increasing by 1 percent each week. (source)
THE OCEAN
1. Climate change is causing some serious changes in oceans, including temperature increase, sea level rise, and acidification. Oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere, and concurrently oxygen levels are decreasing. (source)
2. The ocean is storing an estimated 91 percent of the excess heat energy trapped in the Earth's climate system by excess greenhouse gases. (source)
3. 80 percent of life on Earth is found in the ocean. (source)
WHAT WE CAN DO
1. Read about the ocean on The Ocean Agency
2. Reduce your consumption of seafood and check to see if it sustainable by checking the seafood watch guide by the Monterrey Bay Aquarium.
3. Here are some ways to protect coral reefs from the Biosphere Foundation.
4. Learn more from organizations such as Ocean Conservancy , Oceana, and Sea Shepherd.
5. Watch documentaries to learn more, such as Seaspiracy, Chasing Coral, A Plastic Ocean.