Plastic pollution throughout Earth’s oceans has become an increasingly prevalent issue in contemporary society. Between endangering various marine species, damaging the ocean ecosystem, and contributing to climate change, the issue of ocean pollution is far too expansive to ignore. While scientists, government officials, and the general public recognize these major implications of plastic pollution, the communities that are most affected by this issue are often overlooked and rarely advocated for. Coastal communities rely on the ocean more than any other society, whereby their means of income, transportation, food, shelter, and most other essential living needs depend on the resources the ocean and coastal infrastructure provide. In recent years, the population in sea towns is continually increasing, likely due to various work, travel, and living opportunities that are not available in rural or urban areas. While increased population allows for more economic growth, it also poses a risk of overpopulation and crowding. However, despite the risks associated with the population growth of coastal areas, these communities face a potentially greater risk: ocean plastic pollution. As harmful plastics continue to infiltrate Earth’s oceans, coastal communities’ safety and livelihoods are disproportionately and inequitably harmed more than any other region. 

Coastal communities can be defined as any group of people that live in areas bordering the ocean or along a coastline. Every continent borders at least one ocean, with these communities existing and surviving off the resources these coastal areas offer. Major cities and towns—such as Tokyo, Japan; Mumbai, India; Los Angeles, California; Mexico City, Mexico; New York City, New York; and Venice, Italy, among many others—rely on the ocean as their primary source of revenue, industry, and means of obtaining goods, food, and other life-sustaining resources. It is estimated that roughly 3 billion people (roughly half the world’s total population) live within 200 kilometers of a coastline, which is expected to double within the next five years (Creel, 2003). Most people living in these communities often rely on the ocean to sustain their lifestyles. Coastal towns are epicenters for fishing, tourism, shipwright trades, ports for importing and exporting goods, and other maritime industries. 

Regarding maritime industries in particular, oceanside communities house hundreds of small-scale, artisanal fishers, fish farmers, shipwrights, and other ocean-based industries, with many of these independent companies being in developing countries. It is estimated that roughly 600 million livelihoods partially to fully depend on fisheries and aquaculture, with around 58.5 million people globally (21% of which being women) employed in primary fish production (The World Bank Group, 2022). While primarily taking place in seaside areas, fisheries and seafood trades are essential to nearly all regions around the globe, as citizens in urban areas still need access to seafood just as coastal areas do. This results in a transactional relationship, wherein urban areas obtain seafood from coastal industries, and coastal communities gain business and income through urban areas that lack access to the sea and have no choice but to engage with these businesses. Furthermore, oceanside communities also offer inputs for industry, such as water and land for import and export ports, recreational activities (including fishing, diving, and surfing), and access to raw materials and minerals such as salt and sand (Creel, 2003). Similarly to the seafood industry, coastal industries and government officials capitalize on these resources to bring in more income necessary to upkeep the infrastructure and necessities of the community.

Coastal areas rely on the ocean for both community and industry. The lifestyles of coastal citizens differ greatly from the status quo, where life operates on a much smaller scale and revolves around the sea as the ultimate resource. Coastal areas offer agriculture that prevents erosion, filters pollutants, and provides food and shelter (Creel, 2003). In a typical coastal city such as Venice, Italy, or Cape Town, South Africa, for example, citizens rely on the sea as a means of traveling throughout the city, obtaining a large portion of their food, and participating in business and the economy—all of which being necessary for the endurance of their livelihoods. These coastal communities also heavily rely on tourism to survive. People around the globe travel to coastal cities for their world-renowned seafood, beautiful views, boat tours, and photography opportunities unique to the environment. The money brought in by tourism allows businesses to continue to operate, especially small, locally-owned businesses that specifically cater to tourists. 

When discussing the effects of ocean plastic pollution, it is important to recognize that the weight of this issue specifically affects coastal communities, specifically women of color, laborers in the fishing industries, and underdeveloped communities living along coastlines. 

Generally speaking, all seaside residents are at a much greater risk for health and safety complications associated with plastic pollution. In smaller, more densely-populated coastal areas, pollution is especially concerning. It is estimated that 80% of marine pollution comes from man-made sources, wherein plastic makes up the majority of the materials being littered (along with other substances such as oil and sewage), and roughly 90% of wastewater and 70% of industrial waste are integrated with coastal waters without being treated (Creel, 2003). Knowing this, it is important to note that having such densely polluted waters in coastal areas is very dangerous when considering the health complications associated with these conditions. Individuals who swim in, consume, or otherwise surround themselves with untreated wastewater are at risk for serious health complications, including gastrointestinal viruses, potentially fatal infections, food-borne illnesses, and other harmful diseases (United Nations, 2021). Most of these health complications result from consuming fish that have ingested untreated plastics, wherein marine species ingest plastics and harmful toxins that can be spread to humans through consuming seafood. As seafood makes up the majority of the diets of individuals in seaside areas, these individuals are disproportionately affected by this issue. 

Plastic pollution in coastal communities should also be regarded as an environmental justice issue, as though the effects of this pollution inequitably target women of color, especially those of lower classes. Women in underdeveloped coastal regions depend heavily on fishing more than any other group, as fish are a resource essential to feeding their families and bringing in income. However, women in these areas operate on a much smaller scale (seeing as though they have family responsibilities outside of their career) and earn only roughly 40% of what men earn for fishing in the same underdeveloped areas (Creel, 2003). Being less visible in their work, especially those in marginalized communities, women are also less likely to be considered when policymakers enact legislation regarding managing natural resources. Unlike men in the fishing industry, who typically operate their business in large bodies of water with greater access to marine species, female fishermen typically only have access to land and water in coastal zones, with fewer than 5% of beneficiaries of land reform in lower-income areas—such as El Salvador and Honduras—being women of color (Creel, 2003). When considering concepts of environmental justice, it is evidently clear that women in coastal areas, especially those of color, are systemically overlooked, as they are continually prevented from participating in large-scale fishing industries (which offer higher salaries) and being considered in legislation that would protect their contribution to the fishing industry from future harm caused by plastic pollution. 

It is also important to consider the lack of funding in underdeveloped countries when discussing plastic pollution from an environmental justice lens. Plastic in underdeveloped coastal regions is exacerbated by the lack of infrastructure needed to properly dispose of plastic, litter, and other man-made waste. Furthermore, underdeveloped countries lack adequate sanitary landfills, incineration facilities, recycling capacity and circular economy infrastructure, and proper management and disposal of waste systems. (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2022). The lack of necessary infrastructure causes a ‘plastic leakage’ effect, wherein legal and illegal global trade of plastics disproportionately ends up in the rivers and oceans of third-world coastal regions, as these regions do not possess proper waste management systems sufficient enough to contain plastic waste (International Union for Conservation of Nature, 2022). The fact of the matter is that the large, industrialized countries that contribute the most to the plastic pollution crisis, yet experience little to none of the harsh effects that get pushed onto coastal communities.

When considering the health complications associated with polluting coastal regions, it should be noted that women specifically experience the harshest effects associated with ingesting plastics through seafood consumption. In fact, women (especially women of color), suffer a drastically higher plastic-related toxicity risk, due to higher aggregate exposure to micro and nano plastics found in the home, feminine care products, and seafood that contains ocean plastic (United Nations, 2021). This places women at a higher risk of miscarriages, cancer, and other illnesses, exacerbated by differences in gender, social roles, and political power in regulating plastic use and health standards, all of which are influenced by gender-related disparities overall (United Nations, 2021). In short, the issue of plastic pollution is not simply an issue of overproduction, waste, and littering. Plastic pollution is an issue of environmental inequity, wherein marginalized communities living in coastal areas are disproportionately harmed, suffering the greatest effects of plastic-related disparities, despite contributing very little to the overall issue of ocean pollution.