Pollution

Plastic pollution from aquaculture – including microplastics, styrofoam debris, and abandoned infrastructure – threatens marine ecosystems, aquaculture productivity, and human health. 

Aquaculture operations contribute to microplastic contamination through aging plastic gear, feed bags, packaging, and equipment, which fragment into tiny particles due to sun exposure, mechanical wear, and wave action. These microplastics leach harmful chemicals, disrupting endocrine systems, acidifying water, and accumulating toxins. Microplastic exposure causes DNA damage, slowed growth, and reduced survival rates in farmed species.

Styrofoam, widely used in aquaculture floats and insulation, breaks apart easily, releasing pollutants into marine environments. Beaches and coastal waters are littered with foam particles and plastic litter, harming coastal biodiversity. 

Ghost farms – abandoned aquaculture sites – compound the problem. As their structures deteriorate, they release plastic into the ocean, entangle wildlife, and degrade habitats. These sites contribute to “ghost fishing,” where marine animals die from abandoned gear. The pollution from ghost farms disrupts local economies by threatening fish stocks and tourism.