Are Marine-protected Areas Sheltered from Plastic Pollution?

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The Philippines is one of the top three major contributors of plastic marine debris in the world. Despite this, microplastic pollution remains understudied in the Philippines. This Policy Note looks into microplastics as the culmination of larger plastics often used and discarded in the marine environment. It specifically focused on the Tañon Strait, the country’s largest marine protected area located between Cebu and Negros Islands. The study found a relatively high microplastic occurrence in Tañon Strait. This proves that the Philippines has been contributing a substantial volume of plastic debris into the marine ecosystem. To address this, the study calls for proper waste disposal to mitigate the problem of plastic pollution. It also suggests that these pollutants are most likely generated from single-use plastic items, hence the need to shift from the current throw-away society.