Effect of plastic waste to marine life in Malaysia / Syamin Elyna Rosly

Plastic debris is already found on every Malaysian beach, and we need to make a concerted effort to meet the government's target by 2030. According to the United Nations, marine debris affects at least 800 species globally, with plastic accounting for up to 80% of the waste. This project intends to protect endangered marine life owing to excess plastic in the water, and in order to do so, we must produce an awareness poster about the impacts of plastic on marine life such as dolphins. Littering everywhere sends waste straight to the sewer, then the river, and eventually the sea. Recent research has indicated that 46% of the waste in the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is fishing gear, and of the plastics in the patch, 96% is microplastic. Plastics that have been in the water for a long time may degrade into microplastics, endangering marine life such as dolphins as well as humans. An online survey was distributed to everyone in Malaysia to test the hypothesis of regarding to the topic. Respondents ranged in age from 13 to 60 and above, and the subject concerned littering, recycling, and their understanding of the effects of plastic trash on marine life. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents have observed plastic debris on Malaysian beaches. These findings show that greater effort from the government and Malaysian residents is required to modify policy and behavior in order to keep our ocean clean and conserve marine life in Malaysia.