WASTE IN OCEANS

I HAVE a great dilemma. I cannot understand, how plastic bags from west of the divide can make it to the ocean.

I have watched documentaries on how plastic bags are affecting marine life.

Some humans have become very untidy. Are coastal people worse than average?

I know jumbo jets etc have so many flights over the ocean daily; it requires thousands of people just to safely land them. I know great ocean liners (from ones laden with tourists to the great military one that boasts three fully staffed kitchens to feed the mob) travel regularly across the ocean.

They all have deadlines to meet and budgets to keep; but do they have a reputable code of conduct with regard to their handling of waste. Who is checking them out?

Oh, how I can see them all jettisoning their rubbish straight into the ocean. I cannot see them spending time and effort unloading trash at ports and airports, especially when they would have to pay for its removal. Especially when some countries in the past have dumped far worse than trash in the ocean.

All those great vessels that go out for the fishing season in the icy north. Some make money. Some don’t. Where do you think they put their trash? I fear down the track this plastic bag saga will achieve nothing for the ocean.

Maybe someone can enlighten me as to how this mess is really controlled.

FRAN DONOHOE, Dalby