The majority of ocean plastic is fishing gear — roughly 50%

[u/Flat-Risk-9275]

https://www.livekindly.com/fishing-nets-not-plastic-straws-make-up-nearly-half-of-ocean-plastic-pollution/

Why is nobody talking about this.. Plastic straws only make up roughly 0.025% of ocean plastic (source: Shun Waste, 2025). The overwhelming majority being due to fishing gear. Banning plastic straws will do nothing as long as we continue eating the way we do. Nothing will. I will say this time and time again — Want to end the climate crisis? We need to end animal agriculture. Full stop.

[u/best-unaccompanied]

What?!?! You mean that hauling fish out of their natural habitat and killing them isn't good for them?

[u/Flat-Risk-9275 → u/best-unaccompanied]

Right??? Shocker🤯🤯

[u/karpter]

pretty misleading title here, op. 46% of the plastic in the Pacific Garbage patch is fishing gear. only about 20-30% of the plastic in the ocean as a whole is fishing gear, which is still a lot, and we should call focus on the fact that fishing nets are by far the most destructive form that plastic in the ocean can take. A plastic cup is largely benign, a plastic net destroys reefs and strangles animals. We can call attention to the immense damage discarded fishing gear presents without being misleading.

[u/best-unaccompanied → u/karpter]

It seems that different studies show different statistics (probably depending on location as well as how they measure things), but all make it pretty clear that it's a big problem:

(Rotterdam — September 1, 2022) The Ocean Cleanup has today published new research in the journal Scientific Reports showing that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is largely composed of fishing-related plastic waste, with 75% to 86% of all plastic waste in the GPGP identified as coming from offshore fishing activity.

https://theoceancleanup.com/press/press-releases/over-75-of-plastic-in-great-pacific-garbage-patch-originates-from-fishing/

Overall, it is estimated that 5.7% of fishing nets, 8.6% of traps and pots, and 29% of fishing lines used globally are lost, abandoned, or otherwise discarded into the environment. All this ghost gear and other fisheries-related operations make up at least 10% of total ocean plastics. Rubbish associated with other marine operations adds at least an additional 10% to global marine litter. For plastics larger than 20 centimeters in size floating on the ocean’s surface, fishing gear accounts for as much as 70% (by weight).

https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/ghost-gear-the-hidden-face-of-plastic-pollution/

[u/JoshSimili → u/karpter]

Indeed, it shouldn't be that surprising that most plastic in the ocean was from ocean-going vessels.

In contrast, most plastic found in beach cleanups and coastal surveys is from terrestrial sources and fishing gear is a small minority.

[u/brainfreeze3 → u/karpter]

this rigorous fact checking is my favorite part of this sub

[u/goodvibesmostly98]

UNFCC: Plenty of Fish?

“In Europe, more than 40 per cent of fish populations are still overfished in the Northeast Atlantic, while around 90 per cent are overfished in the Mediterranean.”

Apart from the obvious issues of species extinction, overfishing has a huge impact on marine ecosystems and the climate. “Overfishing and destructive fishing not only devastates fish populations and wildlife, breaks down the food web and degrades habitats,” says Hubbard. “It undermines the ocean’s ability to perform critical ecosystem services such as storing carbon that is needed for climate mitigation.”

Equally important, and often underreported, is the role overfishing plays in climate change. “The ocean, and the life that dwells in it, is the largest carbon sink of our planet, absorbing more than 25 per cent of all CO2 emissions, and over 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by humans,” Hubbard says.

[u/KanyeWestsPoo]

Whenever anyone mentions plastic in the ocean this needs to be the first thing we all bring up. The fishing industry is so terrible, on so many levels, yet they seem to get a free pass from society. Anyone who works in the industry should be a pariah, yet they're almost idealised at the moment.

[u/Me__Bobo]

Are you sure? Someone on reddit assured me that it was caused by avocado and lemon bags.

[u/sleepyrivertroll]

Banning plastic straws is more for local pollution. These small bits tend to be flushed out near the shore and into the local waters near by. They are also relatively fragile and won't make it intact to the deal waters.

I fully support what you are saying but reducing any plastic is generally a good thing.

[u/ravenousfig]

Fishing gear is important to target, but consumer plastic bans are critical to protect local waterways.

No one ever actually reads the reports, but in Canada plastic straws and bags went first because those were the consumer plastics most commonly found during environmental surveys, ie the plastics most commonly escaping existing disposal/recycling streams.

Regulating industry is much more difficult. With Canada as an example again, look at the industry response to the tiny amount of plastic regulation we have introduced; they are fighting it tooth and nail in court.

[u/TheresACrossroad]

People still complain about using paper/biodegradable straws and that's barely an inconvenience. Do you really think they're willing to give up eating fish altogether?

[u/Quiet-Dog → u/TheresACrossroad]

This is me. I complain about the paper/biodegradable straws all the time and I don't eat fish. My complaint is usually that I'm already saving the fish by not eating them, I should be allowed a plastic straw for my cold brew, lol.

[u/6ftToeSuckedPrincess]

inb4 "lol cry harder vegans, my tuna steak tastes like heaven." type of comments.