Teenage orcas made headlines final month for attacking boats, and that’s simply the tip of the shark habits iceberg. The operating theme of Nationwide Geographic’s new Sharkfest collection is sharks behaving badly, weirdly, and simply plain surprisingly. Both approach, when the subject turns to ocean life it’s a very good time to meet up with the ocean plastic downside.

Sharks Behaving…In another way

This 12 months’s Sharkfest collection unspools on July 2, and they’re pulling out the stops. The reveals cowl 4 weeks on Nationwide Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN2. That features 22 hours of latest unique programming plus 50 hours of extras.

Sharkfest highlights embody Bull Shark Bandits, by which bull sharks in Weipa, Australia, are exhibiting a “methodical and radical shift in habits.” Weirder habits is afoot amongst white sharks, in Shark Eat Shark and Return of the White Shark, two episodes that discover shark cannibalism and an obvious shark rager off the coast of Cape Cod.

Bull Shark vs. Hammerhead options uncommon footage of sharks from one species attacking one other, Sharkano: Hawaii explores the mysterious attraction of tiger sharks to volcanoes, and Sharks vs. Dolphins: Bahamas Battleground makes an attempt to nail the culprits which can be biting dolphins for no obvious motive. “Within the Bahamas, greater than 30% of dolphins have shark-bite scars,” Nationwide Geographic explains.

After all, no Sharkfest could be full with out shark-on-human motion. When Sharks Assault 360 is a six-parter that uncovers some “stunning threads” that join shark bites.

The Ocean Plastic Drawback

Sharkfest additionally consists of an eight-part collection, When Sharks Assault…and Why, that explores latest rashes of unpredictable, sudden assaults.

Are sharks attempting to inform us one thing about ocean plastic? Perhaps! The oceans are awash in plastic waste, together with microplastics that may very well be stepping into their methods and messing with their heads.

Varied options have been surfacing, however the general method is piecemeal and lacks information to gauge effectiveness. One factor appears to be clear, although: plastic recycling as we all know it’s not the way in which. In March, a analysis group based mostly within the US calculated that ocean plastic air pollution has elevated dramatically since 2005, regardless of all the eye centered on recycling.

One Particular person’s Trash

The failure of post-consumer recycling just isn’t the one issue. Misplaced or discarded industrial fishing gear additionally shares the blame.

With that in thoughts, let’s check out a brand new ocean plastic report from the United Nations Environmental Programme, titled, Turning off the Faucet: How the world can finish plastic air pollution and create a round economic system.

The report sketches out a roadmap geared toward chopping ocean plastic down by 80% by 2040, but it surely’s going to be a tricky row to hoe. Along with chopping off the stream of latest plastic waste, one thing must be accomplished concerning the waste already in circulation.

To sweeten the pot, UNEP signifies that shifting gears could be a very good factor for the worldwide economic system.

“General, the shift to a round economic system would lead to $1.27 trillion in financial savings, contemplating prices and recycling revenues,” UNEP explains. “An additional $3.25 trillion could be saved from prevented externalities akin to well being, local weather, air air pollution, marine ecosystem degradation, and litigation-related prices.”

“Such a shift might lead to a internet enhance of 700,000 jobs by 2040, principally in low-income international locations, considerably enhancing the livelihoods of thousands and thousands of employees in casual settings,” UNEP provides.

Ocean Plastic: Who’s Gonna Pay For All This?

There being no such factor as a free lunch, UNEP calculates {that a} world funding of $65 billion per 12 months could be required to launch the brand new round economic system. Nonetheless, that’s a discount in comparison with the price of doing enterprise as typical, which UNEP estimates at $113 billion per 12 months.

UNEP notes that the lacking hyperlink is a system of regulation that applies the producer’s duty to a round mannequin, requiring them to take up the price of assortment, recycling, and end-of-life disposal.

That sounds easy sufficient, however the satan is within the particulars. Apart from overcoming the objections of plastic business stakeholders, a brand new round system would wish a sign-off from virtually each member of the UN.

On the brilliant facet, UNEP additionally means that new stakeholders might assist tip the stability. That would come with plastic recyclers in addition to corporations that make compostable or biodegradable plastic alternate options, and firms engaged within the low- or no-waste packaging business with a concentrate on refillable bottles, bulk dispensers, deposit-return-platforms, and take-back packages.

UNEP emphasizes that reusable packaging would have the best influence, however recycling will nonetheless play a task. “Decreasing plastic air pollution by a further 20% by 2040 might be achieved if recycling turns into a extra secure and worthwhile enterprise,” UNEP explains. Placing an finish to fossil fuels subsidies could be one efficient technique to juice the recycling business, amongst different measures.

Takeout meals and wrapped meals are one other space of focus. UNEP calculates {that a} 17% lower in plastic air pollution may very well be achieved by subbing in paper and different compostables for plastic containers and wrappings.

A Head Begin On Sustainable Plastics

As UNEP suggests, throwaway tradition just isn’t going to evaporate into the dustbin of historical past any time quickly. The subsequent neatest thing is to cease making throwaway packaging from petrochemicals.

Along with typical wooden and plant-based disposables, some attention-grabbing new plastic alternate options are rising. Again in 2020, CleanTechnica took be aware of a analysis group that managed to get microalgae to supply iD-lactate, which is a constructing block for bioplastics.

The microorganism pathway appears to be catching on. Earlier this 12 months, the Israeli startup TripleW (previously 3PLW) raised $16.5 million in help of its demonstration facility in Belgium with the Belgian agency Group Op De Beeck. TripleW firm makes lactic acid and PLA bioplastic from fermented meals waste. “PLA is utilized in meals and beverage packaging, automotive elements, toys, textiles, 3D printing, kitchenware and extra,” TripleW explains.

Don’t get too excited simply but. Researchers are discovering that PLA doesn’t biodegrade or compost below situations usually present in nature. Whereas PLA may also help dial down the petrochemical business, it’s not essentially an answer to the ocean plastic downside.

Preserve a eye out for an additional rising pathway on the street to different plastics, involving marine algae and seaweed. At Flinders College in Australia, for instance, researchers are working with the German biomaterials agency one • fıve to develop a seaweed-based extract that can be utilized as a grease-resistant coating for takeout meals.

Discover me on Spoutible: @TinaMCasey or LinkedIn @TinaMCasey or Mastodon @Casey or Publish: @tinamcasey

Picture (screenshot): Sharkfest 2023 is unspooling on a number of channels starting on July 2 (picture courtesy of Nationwide Geographic.

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