A 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation claimed that by 2050 there would be 850 tons of plastic in the oceans and just 812 tons of fish.
The article from MSN discusses the widely cited claim that by 2050, there will be more plastic by weight in the oceans than fish. This prediction, originally made by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2016, has been both influential and controversial. The claim is based on projections of plastic pollution growth rates and the decline in fish populations due to overfishing and other environmental pressures. However, the article points out that this forecast has been met with skepticism due to several factors: the difficulty in accurately measuring plastic in the ocean, the variability in fish stock assessments, and the assumptions made in the models used for these predictions. Critics argue that while plastic pollution is undeniably a severe problem, the exact quantification and comparison to fish biomass might be overly simplistic or speculative. The piece also highlights ongoing efforts to reduce plastic waste, increase recycling, and improve waste management to mitigate the issue, alongside calls for more research to better understand and address the plastic pollution crisis.
Science & Technology
Sun, March 30, 2025
