Video: Impact Of Plastics On Ocean & Wildlife
The National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase recently featured “A Plastic Sea” short film by Justin Lewis and Michelle Stauffer, which was filmed in Bermuda and looks at the impact single-use plastics have on oceans and wildlife.
The film’s description said, “In the Sargasso Sea and around Bermuda, fragments from the breakdown of plastics, especially single-use plastics, are accumulating in sea life, and we are all responsible.
“The impact of plastic and its impact in the oceans is gaining increasing attention, and this film succinctly presents the problems—and hints at a solution to reversing some of them.”
In an interview with the National Geographic, the filmmakers said, “Prior to beginning this project, we had several of the same misconceptions about the garbage patches that many people still have today.
“When you think of a garbage patch, you envision something with considerable mass, like a densely packed island of large plastic objects. In reality it’s worse. There are millions of pieces of micro-plastic that float on the top two to three meters of the ocean’s surface that span across every major ocean on the planet.
“During early morning shoots, we would watch plastic wash up along Bermuda’s shoreline, covered in algae with fish bites taken out of it, indicating that the plastic had been swirling in the ocean’s currents for decades.
“Witnessing the volume of trash we saw wash up on the shores during our short stay in Bermuda left a big impact on us as we imagined that this is happening in many beaches all over the world.
“The objective of the film was to create awareness about the rapidly growing issue of plastic pollution and to inspire people to make small changes to their lifestyle that can have an impact on the problem,” they added.
“By refusing single-use plastics whenever possible, we are each making a choice to reduce the amount of waste we produce and work together to preserve our planet for generations to come.”
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Well, if after watching this film you still don’t understand the issue or are not willing to make some small changes then there is little hope
And remember – virtually all the scenes in the film were of Bermuda
Shocking
“Every day make the choice to refuse single use plastic” says it all.
“By refusing single-use plastics whenever possible, we are each making a choice to reduce the amount of waste we produce and work together to preserve our planet for generations to come.” EXACTLY such a small thing that can make i big difference!
I concur…. But somebody tell the fisheries warden
I have been fishing all my life and never heard of anything as rediculous as this 300.00dollar fine for a ten inch yellowtail off a dock!
You should exhibit common sense or fake it…. This fellow had some spare time and is a guest…. You had to traumatise the poor fellow as long as he eats it it’s fair game off the dock…this is not how i want my guests treated…. You… You… You….
Resign… Get your jollies elsewhere…. He should have thrown that fish in the water!
Then where would you evidence have been?!
This is an important video about the local and global impact of single use plastics – wonderfully highlighting some of our local Bermudian talent dedicated to the study of solutions to our growing challenge locally as more and more plastics impact our ocean and beaches.
I hope this is viewed in our Senate, Parliament, Churches, Schools, Clubs, and Organisations so we can understand that together we are responsible for how we perpetuate this growing issue through our own consumer actions. This film could be a great discussion starter – a powerful wake up call to us all.
So, how can we do better Bermuda?
I was at Warwick Long Bay last night. The amount of plastic on the beach was shocking.
I haven’t even seen this video but I already agree with it. I spent 90 minutes picking up pieces of plastic off the beach this morning. All shapes, all sizes.
Most of the plastic on the beach is bashed up pieces that have been washed ashore. The rest left by inconsiderates. I’d say the ratio is 95% washed up plastic, 5% people just being jerks, based on this mornings observations. We can deal with the 5% jerks. They can be shammed on Facebook, given fines if caught, etc etc…but that problem is MANAGEABLE. It is a simple matter to pick up that fresh easily identifiable trash. But the other 90% of the plastic on the beach will require sifters to remove completely. Go look and see for yourself.
Thing is, the other 90% of the plastic I am as responsible for and as guilty as the guy who leaves his KFC dinner box on the rocks because he couldn’t be bothered to throw it away.
I use single packaged foods all the time. Trays and maxi pads are wrapped along with every steak I buy in a nice plastic sealer, for example. I can think of so many other examples that it is scary. But I picked up small pieces of what appeared to be the steak trays alot today and that is when it really dawned on me.
I am part of the problem.