近海水产养殖业塑料污染不容忽视，专家呼吁加强监管

Core Viewpoint - Experts are calling for a green transformation in China's nearshore aquaculture industry to address plastic pollution, emphasizing the need for proper disposal of discarded fishing gear and enhanced management of coastal waters [1][5]. Group 1: Plastic Pollution Sources and Impact - Discarded fishing gear is a significant source of marine plastic waste, severely impacting marine ecosystems [1][6]. - Plastic constitutes 89.8% of floating debris in marine environments, indicating a more severe water pollution issue compared to beach (79.1%) and seabed (75.4%) debris [1]. - The types of plastic waste include products made from polyethylene (PE, ~40%), polypropylene (PP, ~20%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, ~10%), and polystyrene (PS, ~5%), primarily originating from aquaculture [2]. Group 2: Environmental and Economic Consequences - Discarded fishing gear contributes to the death of non-target marine animals, with potential economic losses estimated at $300,000 annually [4]. - The presence of microplastics, resulting from broken fishing gear, poses a continuous pollution risk and affects marine biodiversity and ecosystem functions [4]. - Aquaculture practices lead to the accumulation of microplastics, with farmed species showing a higher likelihood of microplastic ingestion compared to wild counterparts [4]. Group 3: Recommendations for Management and Regulation - Experts recommend establishing a comprehensive marine plastic pollution source inventory and a monitoring system for nearshore aquaculture [5]. - The development of a plastic gear recycling system and the promotion of environmentally friendly materials are suggested to mitigate plastic waste [5]. - The recent draft of the national ecological environment standard for marine microplastic monitoring emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to assess environmental quality and microplastic distribution [7].