5 page research essay

Collins 1

Gregory Collins

Ms. Osburn

ENG. 132

3 November 2019

Collins 2

Annotated Bibliography

Cressey, D. (2016). “THE PLASTIC OCEAN.” Nature, 536(7616), 263-265. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1812905033?accountid=6444

In Daniel Cressey’s article, The Plastic Ocean, he discusses the huge amount of plastic in the oceans. Cressey starts by describing Kamila beach explaining how nice it is. He then states the one issue that the ocean has, plastic. Next, the author mentions that there is plastic from Arctic to Antarctic. He finishes that statement saying that other human made pollution rots or rust away, but plastic stays around for years. Cressey continues with stating that scientists are still unsure of some of the basic questions such as how much plastic is really in the ocean. He also mentions that it is very hard and expensive to survey the ocean however, some have made it their line of work. Even though it is hard and expensive, the author states that interest is picking up. The author quotes Marcus Eriksen stating that they have been more publication on ocean pollution in the last four years than the last four decades. Cressey switches their topic to the origin of the plastic. He states that a Marine team removed a fish net that weight about 12 tons in the US Marine park Papahanaumokuakea. He continues saying that nets and other Marine equipment counts for about 10 percent of the Marine’s plastic. The author states that Ghost fishing equipment is known to kill hundreds of animal species including turtles, seals, and birds. Cressey finishes saying that eventually they will be a layer of rock around the world that’ll be plastic.

This text gave me a better understanding of the real problem that we have with our oceans. I realize now that I have been underestimating the actual amount of plastic that is actually in the ocean. I will use this article to continue to build my understanding of the ocean’s pollution, and also pull data from it to include in my essay.

Fela, Jen. “Tackling Ocean Plastic in the Laundry Room.” Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, vol. 13, no. 5, 2015, pp. 238–238., www.jstor.org/stable/24891178.

In Jen Fela’s article, Tackling Oceans Plastic in the Laundry Room, she starts by stating that the company “Adidas” is going to start incorporating plastic pulled from the ocean into their clothing. In addition to using the plastic from the oceans, the author states that they’re also going to cease using plastic bags in their retail stores. She continues saying that that this is just a start to a long term plan that will focus on education and communication to reduce plastic in the ocean. Fela finishes this thought saying that an important part of the plan is to see what virgin plastic is still being used and think of ways to eliminate its use. The author finishes saying the only way this will work is with collaboration.

This text gave me a better understanding on what different people are doing to solve the plastic issue in our oceans. I understand now that there are organizations that are actively trying to better the conditions of our oceans and reduce the amount of new plastic flow. I will use this article to help me propose ways to fix the ocean’s crises. This article along with Cressey’s article will give me strong enough evidence to write an effective essay. In Cressey’s essay he discusses problems that our oceans are currently having. Although Fela’s article also states problems in the oceans, she also gives different solutions that can help. With both these articles I now have a strong back bone to help tackle the problem at hand in my essay.

Perkins, Sid. “Plastic Waste Taints the Ocean Floors.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 17 Dec. 2014, https://www.nature.com/news/plastic-waste-taints-the-ocean-floors-1.16581.

In Sid Perkin’s article, Plastic Waste Taints the Ocean Floors, he starts by mentioning an analysis of sea-floor sediments which found that billions of tiny plastic fragments are littering each square kilometer of the deep sea. Perkins continues saying that only a small amount of the oceans was surveyed but this analysis puts the researcher in a better position to survey more in the future. Next, he states that it is believed to be about 250,000 tons of plastic in the oceans surface. The author finishes that thought saying that even though there’s a lot of plastic in the oceans only a small amount of new plastic is added each year. Perkins then states that less than half of the plastic ends up recycled. The author starts to explain a new study published in Royal Society Open Science. The study sampled sediment and coral retrieved from 16 Mediterranean sites. He continues saying each dozen sediment samples contained colorful fiber fragments. Next, the author switches his focus on the Indian Ocean saying that 4 billion bits of fiber are in each square kilometer of the Indian oceans. Perkins concludes with a thought saying that some people don’t see the deep sear floor as a habitat, but it is.

This article gave me a lot of useful specific information on different oceans and their individual plastic problems. I will use this text to help back up my claims in my essay. Since the author gives information about specific oceans, I will be able to discuss a lot more in my own essay. This text along with Cressey’s article has granted me serval different angles of the problem at hand. I will use both of these texts to help me explain how deep the oceans

problem really is. I will try to use Cressey’s article to pull broad information, and then follow with more specific information from Perkins article.

Haven, David. "Ocean Pollution." Marine Technology Society.Marine Technology Society Journal, vol. 34, no. 2, 2000, pp. 59. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/211742876?accountid=6444.

In Haven David’s article, “Ocean Pollution” she starts by explaining how the ocean problems and the solutions to the problems are constantly changing. She finishes that thought by mentioning that the changes to the problems and solutions are caused by public perceptions, media portrayals, and actual needs. Next, David discuses the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill that happen in Prince Edward Sound, Alaska. She States that the public concern from the oil spill was due to the watchful eye of the media. Proceeding that, the author begins to speck on the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. She states that main development in the spill arena is to bring awareness to vessel owners of pollution prevention standards. She continues stating that for the most part significant oil spills have ceased. Next, she introduces a new ocean pollution that is surfacing, aquatic nuisance species (ANS) transported through ballast ships. David continues saying that’s the ANS problem has been with the united states. However, Australia was the first to take action. Finally, the author concludes with saying that the ANS issue, unlike the oil spill issue, will be more technology driven.

This article gave me a whole different look on pollution in our oceans. Unlike the other sources which focuses mainly on the plastic in the ocean, this article focuses on oil spills within the ocean. I now have a deeper understanding of how bad oil in the oceans can be which will help strengthen my claims in my essay. I will use this article to gather data on oil in the oceans to ensure that my statements of the matter are factual.

Gill, Duane A., “The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills: A Comparison of Initial Social and Psychological Impacts*.” American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 56, no. 1, Jan. 2012, pp. 3–23, https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764211408585

In Duane Gill’s article, “The Exxon Valdez and BP Oil Spills”, he starts by explaining how the BP oil spill happened. Next, he begins to talk about the different industries that was affected by the spill including fishing, tourism, and other enterprises related to natural resources. Following, the author states that the issues that were formed cased by the spill will gradually get better. The author then starts to compare the BP spill to the Exxon Valdez spill saying the BP spill caused almost immediate cultural damages. Fowling that Gill gives some background information of the Exxon Valdez spill including the date, location, and the amount of oil that was released into the ocean. Finally, the author concludes with saying that the oil spills will result in psychological stress among gulf coast communities.

This article has granted me even more knowledge on the spills in the oceans and how they affected different business and people who lived near the golf coast. I will use this article along with David’s article to help me add oil spill pollution claims into my essay to go along with the plastic pollution claims.