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Microplastics and the entry into force of the Ballast Water Convention : an arctic perspective
Summary
This article examined whether the Ballast Water Management Convention — designed to prevent invasive species from being transported in ship ballast water — could also help combat microplastic pollution, with a focus on Arctic shipping routes where ballast water discharge adds to growing polar plastic contamination.
Ballast water is used to stabilize ships. It is taken on in one part of the ocean and often released thousands of miles away in a very different ecosystem. This practice leads to a risk of pollution and invasive species affecting ecosystems worldwide. To limit the potential harm from ballast water, the Ballast Water Management Convention has been created. The article looks at the utility of the BWM Convention in combatting water pollution from microplastics. Particular attention is given to the Arctic Ocean, where plastic pollution has been found even in remote, formerly pristine, areas.