View source for Earth:Great Pacific garbage patch

{{Short description|Gyre of debris in the North Pacific}}
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[[File:Great Pacific Garbage Patch-Map-2017.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Great Pacific garbage patch in August 2015 (model)]]
[[File:North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|The patch is created in the gyre of the North Pacific Subtropical Convergence Zone.|alt=Map showing large-scale looping water movements within the Pacific. One circle west to Australia, then south and back to Latin America. Further north, water moves east to Central America, and then joins a larger movement further north, which loops south, west, north, and east between North America and Japan. Two smaller loops circle in the eastern and central North Pacific.]]
The '''Great Pacific garbage patch''' (also '''Pacific trash vortex''' and '''North Pacific garbage patch'''<ref name="AutoW5-1">{{Cite journal |last1=Lebreton |first1=Laurent |last2=Royer |first2=Sarah-Jeanne |last3=Peytavin |first3=Axel |last4=Strietman |first4=Wouter Jan |last5=Smeding-Zuurendonk |first5=Ingeborg |last6=Egger |first6=Matthias |date=2022-09-01 |title=Industrialised fishing nations largely contribute to floating plastic pollution in the North Pacific subtropical gyre |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=12666 |doi=10.1038/s41598-022-16529-0 |pmid=36050351 |pmc=9436981 |bibcode=2022NatSR..1212666L |issn=2045-2322}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}
</ref>) is a [[Earth:Garbage patch|garbage patch]], a [[Physics:Ocean gyre|gyre]] of [[Earth:Marine debris|marine debris]] particles, in the central North Pacific Ocean. It is located roughly from 135°W to 155°W and 35°N to 42°N.<ref>See the relevant sections below for specific references concerning the discovery and history of the patch. A general overview is provided in {{cite journal |last=Dautel |first=Susan L. |title=Transoceanic Trash: International and United States Strategies for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch |volume=3 |issue=1 |journal=Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal |page=181 |year=2007}}</ref> The collection of plastic and floating trash originates from the [[Earth:Pacific Rim|Pacific Rim]], including countries in Asia, North America, and South America.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/03/22/great-pacific-garbage-patch-grows/446405002/|title=World's largest collection of ocean garbage is twice the size of Texas|work=USA Today|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215074001/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/03/22/great-pacific-garbage-patch-grows/446405002/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite the common public perception of the patch existing as giant islands of floating garbage, its low density ({{convert|4|/m3|/yd3|adj=pre|particles}}) prevents detection by [[Astronomy:Satellite imagery|satellite imagery]], or even by casual boaters or divers in the area. This is because the patch is a widely dispersed area consisting primarily of suspended "fingernail-sized or smaller"—often microscopic—particles in the upper [[Earth:Water column|water column]] known as [[Earth:Microplastics|microplastics]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Ecosystems and Human Health: Toxicology and Environmental Hazards |edition=3rd|last=Philp|first=Richard B.|publisher=CRC Press|year=2013|isbn=978-1466567214|pages=116}}</ref> Researchers from [[Organization:The Ocean Cleanup|The Ocean Cleanup]] project claimed that the patch covers {{convert|1.6|e6km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}<ref>{{Cite news|last=Albeck-Ripka|first=Livia|date=22 March 2018|title=The 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' Is Ballooning, 87,000,000,000 Tons of Plastic and Counting|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/climate/great-pacific-garbage-patch.html|access-date=26 February 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111155655/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/22/climate/great-pacific-garbage-patch.html|url-status=live}}</ref> consisting of {{convert|45000-129000|MT|ST|abbr=off}} of plastic as of 2018.<ref name="Evidence" /> The same 2018 study found that, while microplastics dominate the area by count, 92% of the mass of the patch consists of larger objects which have not yet fragmented into microplastics. Some of the plastic in the patch is over 50 years old, and includes items (and fragments of items) such as "plastic lighters, toothbrushes, water bottles, pens, baby bottles, cell phones, plastic bags, and [[Earth:Plastic resin pellet pollution|nurdles]]".

Research indicates that the patch is rapidly accumulating.<ref name="Evidence" /> The patch is believed to have increased "10-fold each decade" since 1945.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Maser|first=Chris|title=Interactions of Land, Ocean and Humans: A Global Perspective|publisher=CRC Press|year=2014|isbn=978-1482226393|pages=147–48}}</ref> The gyre contains approximately six pounds of plastic for every pound of [[Earth:Plankton|plankton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Pacific garbage patch: Plastic turning vast area of ocean into ecological nightmare|url=http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912023857/http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm|archive-date=12 September 2015|access-date=13 October 2008|publisher=Santa Barbara News-Press|df=dmy-all}}</ref> A similar patch of floating plastic debris is found in the Atlantic Ocean, called the [[Earth:North Atlantic garbage patch|North Atlantic garbage patch]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100302-new-ocean-trash-garbage-patch/|title=Huge Garbage Patch Found in Atlantic Too|last=Lovett|first=Richard A.|date=2 March 2010|work=National Geographic News|publisher=[[Organization:National Geographic Society|National Geographic Society]]|access-date=4 March 2010|archive-date=5 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305065648/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100302-new-ocean-trash-garbage-patch/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8534052.stm|title=Plastic rubbish blights Atlantic Ocean|first=Victoria |last=Gill|date=24 February 2010|access-date=16 March 2010|publisher=BBC|archive-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827125623/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8534052.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This growing patch contributes to other environmental damage to marine ecosystems and species.

==History==
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The patch was described in a 1988 paper published by the [[Organization:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA). The description was based on research by several [[Earth:Alaska|Alaska]]-based researchers in 1988 who measured [[Earth:Pleuston#Neuston|neustonic]] [[Chemistry:Plastic|plastic]] in the North Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite web
| last1=Day
| first1=Robert H.
| last2=Shaw
| first2=David G.
| last3=Ignell
| first3=Steven E.
| publication-date=1988
| year=1988
| title=The Quantitative Distribution and Characteristics of Neuston Plastic in the North Pacific Ocean, 1985–88. (Final Report to U.S. Department of Commerce, National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay Laboratory. Auke Bay, Alaska)
| pages=247–66
| url=http://swfsc.noaa.gov/publications/TM/SWFSC/NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-154_P247.PDF
| access-date=18 July 2008
| archive-date=19 August 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819024029/http://swfsc.noaa.gov/publications/TM/SWFSC/NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-154_P247.PDF
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
Researchers found relatively high concentrations of marine debris accumulating in regions governed by ocean currents. Extrapolating from findings in the Sea of Japan, the researchers hypothesized that similar conditions would occur in other parts of the Pacific where prevailing currents were favorable to the creation of relatively stable waters. They specifically indicated the North Pacific Gyre.<ref>"After entering the ocean, however, neuston plastic is redistributed by currents and winds. For example, plastic entering the ocean in Korea is moved eastward by the Subarctic Current (in Subarctic Water) and the Kuroshio (in Transitional Water, Kawai 1972; Favorite et al. 1976; Nagata et al. 1986). In this way, the plastic is transported from high-density areas to low-density areas. In addition to this eastward movement, Ekman stress from winds tends to move surface waters from the subarctic and the subtropics toward the Transitional Water mass as a whole (see Roden 1970: fig. 5). Because of the convergent nature of this Ekman flow, densities tend to be high in Transitional Water. ''Also, the generally convergent nature of water in the North Pacific Central Gyre (Masuzawa 1972) should result in high densities there also.''" (Day, et al. 1988, p. 261) (Emphasis added)</ref>

Charles J. Moore, returning home through the North Pacific Gyre after competing in the Transpacific Yacht Race in 1997, <!-- See paragraph below: "small pieces ... almost invisible ... suspended beneath the surface ... relatively low density" -->claimed to have come upon an enormous stretch of floating debris. Moore alerted the [[Physics:Oceanography|oceanographer]] Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who subsequently dubbed the region the "Eastern Garbage Patch" (EGP).<ref name="natural history">{{Cite web|last=Moore|first=Charles|date=November 2003|title=Natural History Magazine|url=https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/1103/1103_feature.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-17|website=www.naturalhistorymag.com|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917204742/https://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?https%3A%2F%2Fwww.naturalhistorymag.com%2Fhtmlsite%2F1103%2F1103_feature.html}}</ref> The area is frequently featured in media reports as an exceptional example of [[Earth:Marine pollution|marine pollution]].<ref>{{cite news
| last=Berton
| first=Justin
| publication-date=19 October 2007
| date=19 October 2007
| title=Continent-size toxic stew of plastic trash fouling swath of Pacific Ocean
| periodical=San Francisco Chronicle
| page=W-8
| url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/SS6JS8RH0.DTL
| access-date=22 October 2007
| url-status=live
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021010723/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2007%2F10%2F19%2FSS6JS8RH0.DTL
| archive-date=21 October 2007
}}</ref>

The [[Engineering:Junk raft|JUNK Raft Project]] was a 2008 trans-Pacific sailing voyage made to highlight the plastic in the patch, organized by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.<ref name="USAToday28Aug08">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-08-28-1679732347_x.htm|title=A raft made of junk crosses Pacific in 3 months|last=Yap|first=Britt|date=28 August 2008|work=USA Today|access-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331162928/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-08-28-1679732347_x.htm|archive-date=31 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="MSNBC28Aug08">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26436974|title=Raft made of junk bottles crosses Pacific|date=28 August 2008|publisher=NBC News|access-date=30 September 2009|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714225609/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26436974/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC28Aug08">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7571663.stm|title=Mid-ocean dinner date saves rower|last=Jeavans|first=Christine|date=20 August 2008|access-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325004644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7571663.stm|archive-date=25 March 2010|url-status=dead|work=BBC News}}</ref>

In 2009, two project vessels from [[Organization:Project Kaisei|Project Kaisei]]/Ocean Voyages Institute; the ''New Horizon'' and the [[Engineering:Kaisei (ship)|''Kaisei'']], embarked on a voyage to research the patch and determine the feasibility of commercial scale collection and recycling.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914145,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804060444/http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914145,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2009|title=Expedition Sets Sail to the Great Plastic Vortex|last=Walsh|first=Bryan|date=1 August 2009|magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}}|access-date=2 August 2009}}</ref> The Scripps Institute of Oceanography's 2009 SEAPLEX expedition in part funded by Ocean Voyages Institute/Project Kaisei<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Goldstein Miriam C.|last2=Rosenberg Marci|last3=Cheng Lanna|year=2012|title=Increased oceanic microplastic debris enhances oviposition in an endemic pelagic insect|journal=Biology Letters|volume=8|issue=5|pages=817–20|doi=10.1098/rsbl.2012.0298|pmc=3440973|pmid=22573831}}</ref> also researched the patch. Researchers were also looking at the impact of plastic on [[Biology:Pelagic fish#Mesopelagic fish|mesopelagic fish]], such as [[Biology:Lanternfish|lanternfish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seaplexscience.com/2009/08/12/midwater_fish/|title=SEAPLEX Day 11 Part 1: Midwater Fish|work=SEAPLEX|author=Alison Cawood|date=12 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008200929/http://seaplexscience.com/2009/08/12/midwater_fish/|archive-date=8 October 2009|url-status=unfit|access-date=2 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Scientists Find 'Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch'|date=27 August 2009|publisher=[[Organization:National Science Foundation|National Science Foundation]]|url=https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115481|access-date=8 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423171700/http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115481|archive-date=23 April 2012}} [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827180747.htm Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213174154/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090827180747.htm |date=13 December 2018 }}</ref>

In 2010, Ocean Voyages Institute conducted a 30-day expedition in the gyre which continued the science from the 2009 expeditions and tested prototype cleanup devices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1703881/what-its-sail-pacific-trash-vortex|title=This Is What It's Like to Sail in the Pacific Trash Vortex|last=Schwartz|first=Ariel|date=19 November 2010|publisher=Fast Company|access-date=6 September 2019|archive-date=6 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906003941/https://www.fastcompany.com/1703881/what-its-sail-pacific-trash-vortex|url-status=live}}</ref>

in July/August 2012 Ocean Voyages Institute conducted a voyage from San Francisco to the Eastern limits of the North Pacific Gyre north, (ultimately ending in Richmond British Columbia) and then made a return voyage which also visited the Gyre. The focus on this expedition was surveying the extent of tsunami debris from the Japanese earthquake-tsunami.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pacific-ocean-garbage-mostly-from-home-not-japan-tsunami-1.1278512|title=Pacific Ocean garbage mostly from home, not Japan tsunami|website=Canadian Broadcast News|access-date=6 September 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308062446/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pacific-ocean-garbage-mostly-from-home-not-japan-tsunami-1.1278512|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plasticsoupnews.blogspot.com/search/label/Ocean%20Voyages%20Institute|title=Plastic problem plagues Pacific, researchers say|last=Bigmuddygirl|date=14 August 2012|website=Plastic Soup News|access-date=6 September 2019|archive-date=6 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706012417/http://plasticsoupnews.blogspot.com/search/label/Ocean%20Voyages%20Institute|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sources of the plastic==
In 2015, a study published in the journal ''Science'' sought to discover where exactly all of this garbage is coming from. According to the researchers, the discarded plastics and other debris floats eastward out of countries in Asia from six primary sources: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/09/07/great-pacific-garbage-patch-where-did-all-trash-come/1133838002/|title=Where did the trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch come from? How do we stop it?|website=USA Today|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=2 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902011114/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/09/07/great-pacific-garbage-patch-where-did-all-trash-come/1133838002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean |first1=Kara Lavender |last1=Law |first2=Ramani |last2=Narayan |first3=Anthony |last3=Andrady |first4=Miriam |last4=Perryman |first5=Theodore R. |last5=Siegler |first6=Chris |last6=Wilcox |first7=Roland |last7=Geyer |author7-link=Roland Geyer |first8=Jenna R. |last8=Jambeck |author8-link=Jenna Jambeck |date=13 February 2015 |journal=Science |volume=347 |issue=6223 |pages=768–71|doi=10.1126/science.1260352 |pmid=25678662 |bibcode=2015Sci...347..768J |s2cid=206562155}}</ref> The study – which used data as of 2010 – indicated that China was responsible for approximately 30% of worldwide plastic ocean pollution at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Will Dunham |title=World's Oceans Clogged by Millions of Tons of Plastic Trash |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-s-oceans-clogged-by-millions-of-tons-of-plastic-trash/ |access-date=31 July 2019 |work=Scientific American |date=12 February 2019 |quote=China was responsible for the most ocean plastic pollution per year with an estimated 2.4 million tons, about 30 percent of the global total, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria and Bangladesh. |archive-date=16 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116021052/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/world-s-oceans-clogged-by-millions-of-tons-of-plastic-trash/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the Ocean Conservancy reported that China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam dump more plastic in the sea than all other countries combined.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hannah Leung |title=Five Asian Countries Dump More Plastic into Oceans Than Anyone Else Combined: How You Can Help |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahleung/2018/04/21/five-asian-countries-dump-more-plastic-than-anyone-else-combined-how-you-can-help/ |access-date=23 June 2019 |work={{wipe|Forbes}} |date=21 April 2018 |quote=China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are dumping more plastic into oceans than the rest of the world combined, according to a 2017 report by Ocean Conservancy |archive-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229134932/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahleung/2018/04/21/five-asian-countries-dump-more-plastic-than-anyone-else-combined-how-you-can-help/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Efforts to slow land generated debris and consequent marine debris accumulations have been undertaken by the Coastal Conservancy, [[Biology:Earth Day|Earth Day]], and [[Organization:World Cleanup Day|World Cleanup Day]].<ref>{{cite web|title=500,000 Volunteers Take Part in Earth Day 2019 Cleanup|url=https://www.earthday.org/2019/04/26/500000-volunteers-take-part-in-earth-day-2019-cleanup/|date=26 April 2019|website=Earth Day Network|access-date=1 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828221804/https://www.earthday.org/2019/04/26/500000-volunteers-take-part-in-earth-day-2019-cleanup/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coastalcleanupdata.org/|title=Our progress so far...|work=TIDES|publisher=Ocean Conservancy|access-date=1 August 2019|archive-date=1 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801035710/https://www.coastalcleanupdata.org/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.snewsnet.com/press-release/earth-day-network-launches-great-global-clean-up-2019|title=Earth Day Network Launches Great Global Clean Up|date=4 April 2019|website=snews|access-date=1 August 2019|archive-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223154822/https://www.snewsnet.com/press-release/earth-day-network-launches-great-global-clean-up-2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Olivia Rosane|date=12 September 2018|url=https://www.ecowatch.com/cleanup-day-world-national-coastal-2604288003.html|title=Cleanup Day Is Saturday Around the World: Here's How to Help|website=EcoWatch|access-date=1 August 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828221810/https://www.ecowatch.com/cleanup-day-world-national-coastal-2604288003.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to National Geographic, "80 percent of plastic in the ocean is estimated to come from land-based sources, with the remaining 20 percent coming from boats and other marine sources. These percentages vary by region, however. A 2018 study found that synthetic fishing nets made up nearly half the mass of the Great Pacific garbage patch, largely due to ocean current dynamics and increased fishing activity in the Pacific Ocean."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-07-05|title=Great Pacific Garbage Patch|url=https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/|access-date=2020-06-10|website=National Geographic Society|language=en|archive-date=5 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605125705/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Evidence" />{{rp|abs|quote=Over three-quarters of the GPGP mass was carried by debris larger than {{convert|5|cm|in|frac=4}} and at least 46% was {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} fishing nets.}}

An open access study published in 2022 concluded that 75% up to 86% of the plastic pollution is from fishing and agriculture with most identified emissions originating from Japan, China, South Korea, the US and Taiwan.<ref name="AutoW5-1"/>  

The study analysed 6,093 debris items greater than 5 cm found in the North Pacific garbage patch, of which 99% of the rigid items by count and represented 90% of the total debris mass (514 kg) were plastics. These were later sorted, counted, weighed and their sources traced back to five industrialised fishing nations, suggesting the important role the fishing industry plays in the global plastic waste issue.<ref name="AutoW5-1"/>  

Predominantly, the composition of the hard plastic waste includes unidentifiable fragments, fishing and aquaculture gear such as fish boxes, oyster spacers, and eel traps and other plastic items associated with food, drinks and household items. They also represent a substantial amount of accumulated floating plastic mass. <ref name="AutoW5-1"/>  

The 201 plastic objects analysed carried language writings with the most common languages identified being Chinese, Japanese, English and Korean, in that order.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lebreton |first1=Laurent |last2=Royer |first2=Sarah-Jeanne |last3=Peytavin |first3=Axel |last4=Strietman |first4=Wouter Jan |last5=Smeding-Zuurendonk |first5=Ingeborg |last6=Egger |first6=Matthias |date=2022-09-01 |title=Industrialised fishing nations largely contribute to floating plastic pollution in the North Pacific subtropical gyre |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |page=12666 |doi=10.1038/s41598-022-16529-0 |pmid=36050351 |pmc=9436981 |bibcode=2022NatSR..1212666L |issn=2045-2322}}</ref>

==Constitution==
[[File:Currents.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.7|The north Pacific garbage patch on a continuous ocean map|alt=Map of gyres centered near the south pole (click to enlarge)]]

The Great Pacific garbage patch formed gradually as a result of ocean or marine pollution gathered by [[Earth:Ocean current|ocean current]]s.<ref>For this and what follows, see {{cite journal|first=David M.|last=Karl |title=A Sea of Change: Biogeochemical Variability in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre |journal=Ecosystems |volume=2 |issue=3 |date=May–June 1999 |pages=181–214|doi=10.1007/s100219900068 |s2cid=46309501 }} For gyres generally, see {{cite book|vauthors=Sverdrup HU, Johnson MW, Fleming RH |year=1946 |title=The oceans, their physics, chemistry, and general biology |location=New York |publisher=Prentice-Hall}}</ref> It occupies a relatively stationary region of the North Pacific Ocean bounded by the North Pacific Gyre in the [[Earth:Horse latitudes|horse latitudes]]. The gyre's rotational pattern draws in waste material from across the North Pacific, incorporating coastal waters off North America and Japan. As the material is captured in the currents, wind-driven surface currents gradually move debris toward the center, trapping it.

In a 2014 study<ref name=e111913>{{cite journal|last1=Eriksen|first1=Marcus|last2=Lebreton|first2=Laurent C. M.|last3=Carson|first3=Henry S.|last4=Thiel|first4=Martin|last5=Moore|first5=Charles J.|last6=Borerro|first6=Jose C.|last7=Galgani|first7=Francois|last8=Ryan|first8=Peter G.|last9=Reisser|first9=Julia|date=10 December 2014|title=Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=9|issue=12|at=e111913|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4262196|pmid=25494041|bibcode=2014PLoSO...9k1913E|doi-access=free}}</ref> researchers sampled 1571 locations throughout the world's oceans and determined that discarded fishing gear such as buoys, lines and nets accounted for more than 60%<ref name=e111913/> of the mass of plastic marine debris. According to a 2011 EPA report, "The primary source of marine debris is the improper waste disposal or management of trash and manufacturing products, including plastics (e.g., littering, illegal dumping) ... Debris is generated on land at marinas, ports, rivers, harbors, docks, and storm drains. Debris is generated at sea from fishing vessels, stationary platforms, and cargo ships."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/pdf/MarineDebris-NPacFinalAprvd.pdf |title=Marine Debris in the North Pacific: A Summary of Existing Information and Identification of Data Gaps |date=November 2011 |website=US Environmental Protection Agency|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114055751/http://www3.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/pdf/MarineDebris-NPacFinalAprvd.pdf|archive-date=14 January 2016}}</ref> Constituents range in size from miles-long abandoned fishing nets to [[Earth:Microplastics|micro-pellets]] used in cosmetics and abrasive cleaners.<ref name="sierra">{{cite news
| last=Ferris
| first=David
| date=May–June 2009
| title=Message in a bottle
| periodical=Sierra
| location=San Francisco
| publisher=Sierra Club
| url=http://vault.sierraclub.org/sierra/200905/message2.aspx
| access-date=13 August 2009
| archive-date=2 September 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902011117/http://vault.sierraclub.org/sierra/200905/message2.aspx
| url-status=live
}}</ref> A computer model predicts that a hypothetical piece of debris from the U.S. west coast would head for Asia, and return to the U.S. in six years;<ref name="natural history" /> debris from the east coast of Asia would reach the U.S. in a year or less.<ref>{{citation |author1=Faris, J. |author2=Hart, K. |title= Seas of Debris: A Summary of the Third International Conference on Marine Debris |publisher= N.C. Sea Grant College Program and NOAA |year= 1994 }}</ref><ref name="npr-moore">{{cite news |title= Garbage Mass Is Growing in the Pacific |date= 28 March 2008 |publisher= NPR |url= https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89099470 |access-date= 16 January 2019 |archive-date= 20 January 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190120125043/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89099470 |url-status= live }}</ref> While microplastics make up 94% of the estimated 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, they amount to only 8% of the {{convert|79|e3MT|e3ST|abbr=off}} of plastic there, with most of the rest coming from the fishing industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/great-pacific-garbage-patch-plastics-environment/|title=The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Isn't What You Think it Is|last=Parker|first=Laura|date=22 March 2018|website=National Geographic News|access-date=18 June 2019|archive-date=18 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618030308/https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/great-pacific-garbage-patch-plastics-environment/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A 2017 study concluded that of the {{convert|9.1|e9MT|e9ST|abbr=off}} of plastic produced since 1950, close to {{convert|7|e9MT|e9ST|abbr=off}} are no longer in use.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/plastic-pollution-9-billion-tons-of-permanent-problems-for-our-planet/news-story/77cd6fa7ba6ce3529f4969609f5eb143|title=Plastic pollution threatens to smother our planet|work=NewsComAu|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721065030/http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/plastic-pollution-9-billion-tons-of-permanent-problems-for-our-planet/news-story/77cd6fa7ba6ce3529f4969609f5eb143|url-status=live}}</ref> The authors estimate that 9% was [[Physics:Recycling|recycled]], 12% was [[Engineering:Incineration|incinerated]], and the remaining {{convert|5.5|e9MT|e9ST|abbr=off}} are in the oceans and land.<ref name=":1" />

=== Animals ===
In a 2021 study, researchers who examined plastic from the patch identified more than 40 animal species on 90 percent of the debris they studied.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=Wetzel |first2=Corryn |title=The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Hosts Life in the Open Ocean |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-hosts-life-in-the-open-ocean-180979168/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Haram |first1=Linsey E. |last2=Carlton |first2=James T. |last3=Centurioni |first3=Luca |last4=Crowley |first4=Mary |last5=Hafner |first5=Jan |last6=Maximenko |first6=Nikolai |last7=Murray |first7=Cathryn Clarke |last8=Shcherbina |first8=Andrey Y. |last9=Hormann |first9=Verena |last10=Wright |first10=Cynthia |last11=Ruiz |first11=Gregory M. |date=2021-12-02 |title=Emergence of a neopelagic community through the establishment of coastal species on the high seas |journal=Nature Communications |language=en |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=6885 |doi=10.1038/s41467-021-27188-6 |pmid=34857744 |pmc=8639729 |bibcode=2021NatCo..12.6885H |issn=2041-1723}}</ref> Discovery of a thriving ecosystem of life at the Great Pacific garbage patch in 2022 suggested that cleaning up garbage here may adversely remove this plastisphere.<ref name="life">{{cite web |author=Abby Lee Hood |date=2022-05-01 |title=Hooray! The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Has Become a Thriving Ecosystem, Scientists Say |url=https://futurism.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch-ecosystem-climate-pollution |publisher=Futurism}}</ref>

A 2023 study found that the plastic is home to coastal species surviving in the open ocean and reproducing.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Bartels |first=Meghan |title=Surprising Creatures Lurk in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/surprising-creatures-lurk-in-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |access-date=2023-04-20 |website=Scientific American |language=en}}</ref> These coastal species, including jellyfish and sponges, are commonly found in the western Pacific coast and are surviving alongside open-ocean species on the plastic.<ref name=":0" /> Some scientists are concerned that this mix of coastal and open-ocean species may result in unnatural or "neopelagic communities," in which coastal creatures could be competing with or even consuming open-ocean species.<ref name=":0" />

==Size estimates==
[[File:Garbage Patch Visualization Experiment.webm|thumb|Visualisation showing how mass accumulates in gyres.]]The size of the patch is indefinite, as is the precise distribution of debris because large items are uncommon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40584629|title=A mission to the Pacific plastic patch|last=Brassey|first=Dr Charlotte|date=16 July 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=21 July 2017|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720184055/http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40584629|url-status=live}}</ref> Most debris consists of small plastic particles suspended at or just below the surface, evading detection by aircraft or satellite. Instead, the size of the patch is determined by sampling. The estimated size of the garbage patch is {{convert|1600000|km2|mi2}} (about twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Great Pacific Garbage Patch • The Ocean Cleanup |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |website=The Ocean Cleanup |access-date=8 February 2022 |archive-date=10 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210195334/https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Such estimates, however, are conjectural given the complexities of sampling and the need to assess findings against other areas. Further, although the size of the patch is determined by a higher-than-normal degree of concentration of pelagic debris, there is no standard for determining the boundary between "normal" and "elevated" levels of pollutants to provide a firm estimate of the affected area.

{{blockquote|Net-based surveys are less subjective than direct observations but are limited regarding the area that can be sampled (net apertures {{convert|1–2|m|ftin}} and ships typically have to slow down to deploy nets, requiring dedicated ship's time). The plastic debris sampled is determined by net mesh size, with similar mesh sizes required to make meaningful comparisons among studies. Floating debris typically is sampled with a neuston or [[Earth:Manta trawl|manta trawl]] net lined with 0.33 mm [0.013 in] mesh. Given the very high level of spatial clumping in marine litter, large numbers of net tows are required to adequately characterize the average abundance of litter at sea. Long-term changes in plastic meso-litter have been reported using surface net tows: in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in 1999, plastic abundance was {{convert|335,000|/km2|/sqmi|adj=pre|items}} and {{convert|5.1|kg/km2|lb/sqmi}}, roughly an order of magnitude greater than samples collected in the 1980s. Similar dramatic increases in plastic debris have been reported off Japan. However, caution is needed in interpreting such findings, because of the problems of extreme spatial heterogeneity, and the need to compare samples from equivalent water masses, which is to say that, if an examination of the same parcel of water a week apart is conducted, an order of magnitude change in plastic concentration could be observed.<ref name="Ryan et al 2009">{{cite journal |doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0207 |title=Monitoring the abundance of plastic debris in the marine environment |year=2009 |last1=Ryan |first1=P. G. |last2=Moore |first2=C. J. |last3=Van Franeker |first3=J. A. |last4=Moloney |first4=C. L. |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=364 |issue=1526 |pages=1999–2012 |jstor=40485978 |pmid=19528052 |pmc=2873010}}</ref>|Ryan et al}}

[[File:Pacific-garbage-patch-map 2010 noaamdp.jpg|thumb|Pacific Ocean currents have created three "islands" of debris.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/movement/great-pacific-garbage-patch |title=Great Pacific Garbage Patch |website=Marine Debris Division – Office of Response and Restoration |publisher=NOAA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417124654/https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/movement/great-pacific-garbage-patch |archive-date=17 April 2014 |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=2 September 2019 }}</ref>]]
In August 2009, the [[Organization:Scripps Institution of Oceanography|Scripps Institution of Oceanography]]/[[Organization:Project Kaisei|Project Kaisei]] SEAPLEX survey mission of the Gyre found that plastic debris was present in 100 consecutive samples taken at varying depths and net sizes along a path of {{convert|1700|mi|km}} through the patch. The survey found that, although the patch contains large pieces, it is on the whole made up of smaller items that increase in concentration toward the gyre's centre, and these '[[Biology:Confetti|confetti]]-like' pieces that are visible just beneath the surface suggests the affected area may be much smaller.<ref name="Ryan et al 2009" /><ref>{{cite web|date=4 January 2011|title=OSU: Reports of giant ocean 'garbage patch' are exaggerated|url=http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/112901159.html|agency=Associated Press|website=KATU.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214135534/http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/112901159.html|archive-date=14 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/jan/oceanic-%E2%80%9Cgarbage-patch%E2%80%9D-not-nearly-big-portrayed-media|title=Oceanic 'garbage patch' not nearly as big as portrayed in media|website=OSU Newsroom|publisher=Oregon State University|date=4 January 2011|access-date=18 April 2023|archive-date=7 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107081328/http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/jan/oceanic-%E2%80%9Cgarbage-patch%E2%80%9D-not-nearly-big-portrayed-media|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2009 data collected from Pacific [[Biology:Albatross|albatross]] populations suggest the presence of two distinct debris zones.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0007623 |title=Bringing Home the Trash: Do Colony-Based Differences in Foraging Distribution Lead to Increased Plastic Ingestion in Laysan Albatrosses? |year=2009 |editor1-last=Ropert-Coudert |editor1-first=Yan |last1=Young |first1=Lindsay C. |last2=Vanderlip |first2=Cynthia |last3=Duffy |first3=David C. |last4=Afanasyev |first4=Vsevolod |last5=Shaffer |first5=Scott A. |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=4 |issue=10 |pages=e7623 |pmid=19862322 |pmc=2762601|bibcode= 2009PLoSO...4.7623Y|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In March 2018, [[Organization:The Ocean Cleanup|The Ocean Cleanup]] published a paper summarizing their findings from the Mega- (2015) and Aerial Expedition (2016). In 2015, the organization crossed the Great Pacific garbage patch with 30 vessels, to make observations and take samples with 652 survey nets. They collected a total of 1.2 million pieces, which they counted and categorized into their respective size classes. In order to also account for the larger, but more rare debris, they also overflew the patch in 2016 with a [[Engineering:Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130 Hercules]] aircraft, equipped with [[Engineering:Lidar|LiDAR sensors]]. The findings from the two expeditions, found that the patch covers {{convert|1.6|e6km2|abbr=off}} with a concentration of {{convert|10–100|kg/km2|lb/sqmi}}. They estimate an {{convert|80,000|MT|ST}} in the patch, with 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, out of which 92% of the mass is to be found in objects larger than {{convert|0.5|cm|in|frac=16}}.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title=The Great Pacific Garbage Patch|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/|access-date=8 May 2018|website=The Ocean Cleanup|archive-date=10 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210195334/https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/the-exponential-increase-of-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/|title=The Exponential Increase of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch|last=Lebreton|first=Laurent|date=22 March 2018|work=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=8 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185648/https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/the-exponential-increase-of-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Evidence">{{cite journal | year=2019 | first1=J.| last2=Nash | publisher=[[Company:Elsevier|Elsevier]] | volume=138 | pages=145–147 | s2cid=58550075 | pmid=30660255 | doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.022 | title=Microplastics: Finding a consensus on the definition | issn=0025-326X | journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin | last1=Frias | first2=Roisin| bibcode=2019MarPB.138..145F}} {{Cite journal|last1=Lebreton|first1=L.|last2=Slat|first2=B.|last3=Ferrari|first3=F.|last4=Sainte-Rose|first4=B.|last5=Aitken|first5=J.|last6=Marthouse|first6=R.|last7=Hajbane|first7=S.|last8=Cunsolo|first8=S.|last9=Schwarz|first9=A.|date=22 March 2018|title=Evidence that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is rapidly accumulating plastic|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=8|issue=1|pages=4666|doi=10.1038/s41598-018-22939-w|pmid=29568057|pmc=5864935|issn=2045-2322|bibcode=2018NatSR...8.4666L|s2cid=4093211}}</ref>

NOAA stated:

{{blockquote|text=While "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is a term often used by the media, it does not paint an accurate picture of the marine debris problem in the North Pacific Ocean. The name "Pacific Garbage Patch" has led many to believe that this area is a large and continuous patch of easily visible marine debris items such as bottles and other litter&nbsp;– akin to a literal island of trash that should be visible with satellite or aerial photographs. This is not the case.|source=Ocean Facts, [[Earth:National Ocean Service|National Ocean Service]]<ref>{{cite web|title=What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?|url=http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/garbagepatch.html|website=National Ocean Service|publisher=NOAA|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825191155/https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/garbagepatch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

In a 2001 study, researchers<ref name="natural history3">{{cite magazine|last=Moore|first=Charles|date=November 2003|title=Across the Pacific Ocean, plastics, plastics, everywhere|url=http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/1103/1103_feature.html|magazine=Natural History Magazine|access-date=16 March 2022|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817121204/http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/htmlsite/master.html?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.naturalhistorymag.com%2Fhtmlsite%2F1103%2F1103_feature.html|url-status=live}}</ref> found concentrations of plastic particles at {{convert|334,721|/km2|/sqmi|adj=pre|pieces}} with a mean mass of {{convert|5.1|kg/km2|lb/sqmi}}, in the neuston. The overall concentration of plastics was seven times greater than the concentration of [[Earth:Zooplankton|zooplankton]] in many of the sampled areas. Samples collected deeper in the water column found much lower concentrations of plastic particles (primarily [[Engineering:Monofilament fishing line|monofilament fishing line]] pieces).<ref name="moore20013">{{cite journal|last1=Moore|first1=C.J|last2=Moore|first2=S.L|last3=Leecaster|first3=M.K|last4=Weisberg|first4=S.B|year=2001|title=A Comparison of Plastic and Plankton in the North Pacific Central Gyre|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|volume=42|issue=12|pages=1297–300|doi=10.1016/S0025-326X(01)00114-X|pmid=11827116|bibcode=2001MarPB..42.1297M }}</ref> In 2012, researchers Goldstein, Rosenberg and Cheng found that microplastic concentrations in the gyre had increased by two [[Order of magnitude|orders of magnitude]] in the prior four decades.<ref name="GRC">{{cite journal |last1=Goldstein |first1=M. C. |last2=Rosenberg |first2=M. |last3=Cheng |first3=L. |year=2012 |title=Increased oceanic microplastic debris enhances oviposition in an endemic pelagic insect |journal=Biology Letters |volume=8 |issue=5 |pages=817–20 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2012.0298 |pmc=3440973 |pmid=22573831}}</ref>

On 11 April 2013, artist Maria Cristina Finucci founded ''The Garbage Patch State'' at [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]&nbsp;– Paris<ref>{{cite web |date=22 May 2019 |title=The garbage patch territory turns into a new state |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/venice/about-this-office/single-view/news/the_garbage_patch_territory_turns_into_a_new_state/#.U71u8fl_u9U |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911135638/http://www.unesco.org/new/en/venice/about-this-office/single-view/news/the_garbage_patch_territory_turns_into_a_new_state/#.U71u8fl_u9U |archive-date=11 September 2017 |access-date=5 November 2014 |publisher=[[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]}}</ref> in front of Director General Irina Bokova.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rifiuti diventano stato, Unesco riconosce 'Garbage Patch' |trans-title=UNESCO Recognizes Garbage Patch as State |url=http://www.rivistasitiunesco.it/articolo.php?id_articolo=2073 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103173331/http://www.rivistasitiunesco.it/articolo.php?id_articolo=2073 |archive-date=3 November 2014 |work=SITI |publisher=L'Associazione Città e Siti Italiani – Patrimonio Mondiale UNESCO |lang=it |via=rivistasitiunesco.it |issn=2038-7237}}</ref>

== Environmental issues ==
{{Main|Earth:Marine debris|Earth:Marine plastic pollution}}

== Debris removal efforts ==

=== Ocean Voyages Institute's Project Kaisei ===
In 2009, Ocean Voyages Institute removed over {{convert|5|ST|MT}} of plastic during the initial Project Kaisei cleanup initiative while testing a variety of cleanup prototype devices.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=17 August 2009|title=Mining The Sea Of Plastic|url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/87/i33/Mining-Sea-Plastic.html|access-date=17 February 2022|archive-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223204/https://cen.acs.org/articles/87/i33/Mining-Sea-Plastic.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, over a 25-day expedition, Ocean Voyages Institute set the record for largest cleanup in the garbage patch, removing over {{convert|40|MT|ST}} of plastic from the ocean.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=June 29, 2019 |title=Environmentalists remove 40 tonnes of abandoned fishing nets from Great Pacific Garbage Patch |newspaper=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-30/pacific-ocean-garbage-clean-up/11264822 |url-status=live |access-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223207/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-30/pacific-ocean-garbage-clean-up/11264822 |archive-date=17 February 2022}}</ref> In 2020, over the course of 2 expeditions, Ocean Voyages Institute again set the record for the largest cleanup removing {{convert|170|ST|MT lb}} of plastic from the ocean. The first 45-day expedition removed {{convert|103|ST|MT lb}} of plastic <ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 6, 2020 |title=Worlds Largest Ocean Cleanup |url=https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/project-kaisei-largest-open-ocean-clean-up/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217223215/https://www.aneddoticamagazine.com/project-kaisei-largest-open-ocean-clean-up/ |archive-date=17 February 2022 |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref> and the second expedition removed {{convert|67|ST|MT}} of plastic from the garbage patch.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 7, 2020 |title=Sailing Cargo Vessel Recovers 67 Tons of Ocean Plastic |url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/photos-sailing-cargo-vessel-kwai-recovers-67-tons-of-ocean-plastic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927044724/https://maritime-executive.com/article/photos-sailing-cargo-vessel-kwai-recovers-67-tons-of-ocean-plastic |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> In 2022, over the course of 2 summer expeditions, Ocean Voyages Institute removed {{convert|148|ST|MT lb}} of plastic ghostnets, consumer items and mixed plastic debris from the garbage patch.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clean-up ship picks up 50 tons of trash out of Pacific Ocean |date=30 August 2022 |url=https://www.kitv.com/news/business/clean-up-ship-picks-up-50-tons-of-trash-out-of-pacific-ocean/article_9d38d4f4-28e4-11ed-9bc7-d72b7f9f4459.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=26 July 2022 |title=Ocean Voyages Institute removes 96 tons of plastic from Pacific Ocean |url=https://www.kron4.com/news/ocean-voyages-institute-removes-96-tons-of-plastic-from-pacific-ocean/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=28 July 2022 |title=Bay Area ship removes 96 tons of trash from Pacific Ocean |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/07/28/sausalito-ship-removes-96-tons-of-trash-from-pacific-ocean/}}</ref>

=== The Ocean Cleanup ===
On 9 September 2018, the first collection system was deployed to the gyre to begin the collection task.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lavars |first=Nick |date=17 October 2018 |title=Ocean Cleanup system installed and ready for work at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch |url=https://newatlas.com/ocean-cleanup-installed-great-pacific-patch/56834 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221072854/https://newatlas.com/ocean-cleanup-installed-great-pacific-patch/56834/ |archive-date=21 December 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019 |website=newatlas.com}}</ref> This initial trial run of the Ocean Cleanup Project started towing its "Ocean Cleanup System 001" from {{wipe|San Francisco}} to a trial site some {{convert|240|nmi|km mi|lk=in}} away.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dent |first=Steve |date=11 September 2018 |title=A project to remove 88,000 tons of plastic from the Pacific has begun |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/09/11/great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleanup-started/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123043752/https://www.engadget.com/2018/09/11/great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleanup-started/ |archive-date=23 November 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019 |website=Engadget}}</ref> The initial trial of the  "Ocean Cleanup System 001" ran for four months and provided the research team with valuable information relevant to the designing of the "System 001/B".<ref>{{Cite web |title=System 001 |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/milestones/system001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109122010/https://theoceancleanup.com/milestones/system001/ |archive-date=9 November 2021 |access-date=2021-09-17 |website=The Ocean Cleanup |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, [[Organization:The Ocean Cleanup|The Ocean Cleanup]] collected {{convert|63,182|lb|kg ST MT}} of plastic using their "System 002". The mission started in July 2021 and concluded on October 14, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=More than 63,000 pounds of trash removed from one of the biggest accumulations of ocean plastic in the world |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trash-removed-from-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019133241/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trash-removed-from-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |archive-date=19 October 2021 |access-date=2021-11-05 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2022, The Ocean Cleanup announced that they had reached a milestone of removing the first {{convert|100,000|kg|lb MT ST}} of plastic from the Great Pacific garbage patch using "System 002"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-25 |title=First 100,000 KG Removed From the Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Updates • The Ocean Cleanup |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/first-100000-kg-removed-from-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=The Ocean Cleanup |language=en-US}}{{void|comment|Fabrickator|Author is presumably Erika Träskvik, see comment on following reference.}}</ref> and announced its transition to "System 03", which is claimed to be 10 times as effective as its predecessor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-21 |title=Transition to System 03 Begins • Updates • The Ocean Cleanup |url=https://theoceancleanup.com/updates/transition-to-system-03-begins/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=The Ocean Cleanup |language=en-US}}{{void|comment|Fabrickator|The author is identified as Erika in the web page metadata, presumably that is Erika Träskvik, credited on various sites as an author at the Ocean Cleanup organization, but no explicit credit is given so omitting from the citation.}}</ref> The group expects larger nets to enable it starting in 2024 to remove garbage faster than it is being deposited, and to clean up the entire patch within ten years.<ref>[https://theworld.org/media/2023-08-21/cleaning-pacific-garbage-patch-one-trawler-time Cleaning up the Pacific Garbage Patch — one trawler at a time]</ref>

=== Other removal efforts ===
The 2012 Algalita/[[Organization:5 Gyres|5 Gyres]] Asia Pacific Expedition began in the Marshall Islands on 1 May, investigated the patch, collecting samples for the 5 Gyres Institute, Algalita Marine Research Foundation, and several other institutions, including NOAA, [[Organization:Scripps Institution of Oceanography|Scripps]], IPRC and [[Organization:Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution|Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute]]. In 2012, the [[Organization:Sea Education Association|Sea Education Association]] conducted research expeditions in the gyre. One hundred and eighteen net tows were conducted and nearly 70,000 pieces of plastic were counted.<ref>{{cite web|author=Emelia DeForce|date=9 November 2012|title=The Final Science Report|url=https://www.sea.edu/plastics/journal/november_9_day_38|website=Plastics at SEA North Pacific Expedition|publisher=Sea Education Association|access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=2 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302092950/https://www.sea.edu/plastics/journal/november_9_day_38|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Earth:Ecosystem of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre|Ecosystem of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre]]
* [[Earth:Indian Ocean garbage patch|Indian Ocean garbage patch]]
* [[Earth:North Atlantic garbage patch|North Atlantic garbage patch]]
* Ocean Conservancy
* Plastisphere
* [[Earth:South Pacific garbage patch|South Pacific garbage patch]]
* [[Organization:World Cleanup Day|World Cleanup Day]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist}}

'''Further reading'''
{{Refbegin|2}}
* {{cite journal|author=Oliver J. Dameron |author2=Michael Parke |author3=Mark A. Albins |author4=Russell Brainard|date=April 2007|title=Marine debris accumulation in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: An examination of rates and processes|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|volume=54|issue=4|pages=423–33|doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.11.019|pmid=17217968|bibcode=2007MarPB..54..423D }}
* {{cite journal|title=Floating plastic in the Kuroshio Current area, western North Pacific Ocean|author=Rei Yamashita|author2=Atsushi Tanimura|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|volume=54|issue=4|pages=485–88|year=2007|doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.11.012|pmid=17275038|bibcode=2007MarPB..54..485Y }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.aviso.oceanobs.com/fileadmin/documents/OSTST/2000/kubota.pdf|title=Movement and accumulation of floating marine debris simulated by surface currents derived from satellite data|author=Masahisa Kubota|author2=Katsumi Takayama|author3=Noriyuki Horii|publisher=School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University|year=2000|access-date=5 June 2008|archive-date=21 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121125105/http://www.aviso.oceanobs.com/fileadmin/documents/OSTST/2000/kubota.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Gregory|first=M.R.|author2=Ryan, P.G.|year=1997|chapter=Pelagic plastics and other seaborne persistent synthetic debris: a review of Southern Hemisphere perspectives|editor=Coe, J.M. |editor2=Rogers, D.B.|title=Marine Debris: Sources, Impacts, Solutions|publisher=Springer-Verlag|location=New York|pages=49–66}}
* {{cite book|title=Plastic Ocean|last1=Moore|first1=Charles G.|last2=Phillips|first2=Cassandra|year=2011|publisher=Penguin Group|isbn=978-1452601465}}
* [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.565.1613&rep=rep1&type=pdf Density of plastic particles found in zooplankton trawls from coastal waters of California to the North Pacific Central Gyre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427044832/http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.565.1613&rep=rep1&type=pdf |date=27 April 2018 }} – Charles J Moore, Gwen L Lattin and Ann F Zellers (2005)
* {{Cite journal|last1=Day|first1=Robert H.|last2=Shaw|first2=David|last3=Ignell|first3=Steven E.|date=1 January 1990|title=The quantitative distribution and characteristics of neuston plastic in the North Pacific Ocean, 19841988|url=http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/135814.pdf|journal=|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=26 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126210841/http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/135814.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine |first=Thomas |last=Morton |url=http://www.viceland.com/int/v15n2/htdocs/oh_this_is_great.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725082324/http://www.viceland.com/int/v15n2/htdocs/oh_this_is_great.php |archive-date=25 July 2008 |title=Oh, This is Great, Humans Have Finally Ruined the Ocean |magazine=Vice magazine |volume=6 |issue=2 |year=2007 |pages=78–81 }}
* {{cite book |title=Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea |first=Donovan |last=Hohn |year=2011 |isbn=978-0670022199 |publisher= Viking |title-link=Moby-Duck }}
* {{cite journal
| first=Lindsey
| last=Hoshaw
| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html?_r=1&hpw
| title=Afloat in the Ocean, Expanding Islands of Trash
| journal={{wipe|The New York Times}}
| date=9 November 2009
| access-date=10 November 2009
| archive-date=20 May 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520104841/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10patch.html?_r=1&hpw
| url-status=live
}}
* {{Cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=qxeXAgAAQBAJ}}|title=Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch|last=Newman|first=Patricia|year= 2014|publisher=Millbrook Press|isbn=978-1467725415}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plastic-trash-plagues-ocean Pacific Garbage Patch – Smithsonian Ocean Portal]
* [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/plastic-surf/ "Plastic Surf" The Unhealthful Afterlife of Toys and Packaging: Small remnants of toys, bottles and packaging persist in the ocean, harming marine life and possibly even us] by Jennifer Ackerman, ''Scientific American'' August 2010
* [http://plasticparadisemovie.com/ Plastic Paradise Movie – independent documentary by Angela Sun uncovering the mystery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch known as the Plastic Paradise]
* [https://www.n-tv.de/mediathek/bilderserien/wissen/Die-schmutzigsten-Fluesse-der-Welt-article7142086.html The source of the garbage patches], pictures
* [https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20333190.html Irish Examiner article]
* [https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-12-13/climate-change-meet-your-apocalyptic-twin-oceans-poisoned-plastic Climate change, meet your apocalyptic twin: oceans poisoned by plastic]. Public Radio International. 13 December 2016
* [https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-in-ocean-outweighs-fish-evidence-report-2017-1 By 2050, the oceans could have more plastic than fish]. ''Business Insider''. 27 January 2017.
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/scientific-publications/|title=Scientific publications|last=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=21 October 2018}}
* {{Skeptoid | id=4132 | number=132 | title=The Sargasso Sea and the Pacific Garbage Patch|date=16 December 2008}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://volksgrun.com/Clean-Ocean/|title=The Ocean Cleanup in One Year}}

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{{Ocean}}
{{Marine pollution}}

[[Category:Pacific Ocean]]

{{Sourceattribution|Great Pacific garbage patch}}