Ecological Impacts of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pervasive and persistent threats to marine ecosystems worldwide. Due to its durability and resistance to natural degradation, plastic debris accumulates rapidly, with projections suggesting that by 2050, the total mass of plastics in the oceans could surpass that of fish (World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and McKinsey & Company, 2016). Recent scientific research has revealed that plastic pollution is not confined to highly populated coastal areas, but extends to remote islands, the deep sea, and even the polar regions (Nakajima, 2019).

Marine plastic debris exists in various forms, from large macroplastics such as fishing nets and packaging materials to microplastics (less than 5 millimetres) and nanoplastics (less than 1 nanometre. Both pose serious risks to marine organisms, including entanglement, ingestion, physical injury, and chemical exposure (UNEP, 2021). While the ecological impacts are increasingly recognised on a global scale, significant knowledge gaps remain in understanding the situation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the ASEAN region to review current research on the ecological impacts of macroplastics, microplastics, and nanoplastics – highlighting the most affected species and habitats, identifying data gaps, and considering the broader implications for marine biodiversity conservation.