Among the global stresses affecting reef-building corals, affecting their health and potentially leading to mass bleaching events, plastic pollution represents a major and growing threat: the amount of plastic waste found in seas and oceans could reach 29 million tons per year by 2040.
More than 20 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the seas and oceans every year.
This destructive scourge for marine biodiversity is also a proven risk for human health.
As ocean advocates continue to fight an uphill battle which is taking years to seek the designation of an increasing number of marine protected areas around the world, let alone their proper management, would it be worthwhile to explore another option that would consist in designating marine exploitable areas instead?
Investigation into an unknown trade