THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC Pollution

This week’s blog post dives into an issue central to Dolphin Dude: plastic pollution. While I won’t get too in-depth today, this is the start of a conversation we’ll build on in the coming weeks, exploring the impact of plastic on our oceans and the solutions we can champion—just like Dolphin Dude and his friends do in their fight against marine threats.

Plastic pollution is not only a massive environmental disaster but a personal battle for marine life. It's one of the UN’s top three threats to the planet, and nowhere is this more evident than in our oceans. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is a horrifying example, stretching 1.6 million square kilometers—twice the size of Texas. This floating mass of plastic, weighing around 80,000 tonnes, is not just a visual blight but a danger to marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and even human health. Just like the plastic waste Dolphin Dude faces in his ocean, this pollution causes real harm to species like sea turtles and whales, who mistake plastics for food.

In Canada, "Plastic Manufactured Items" have officially been added to the government’s Toxic Substances List. Despite this, plastic continues to infiltrate our lives, from everyday products to our own bodies. We know the effects on marine animals, but we’re also learning about its impact on humans. It’s found in our bloodstreams, our organs—even our brains! And marine creatures, like Dolphin Dude’s dolphin friends, are consuming staggering amounts of plastic, with a blue whale ingesting up to 10 million pieces per day through krill.

Cleaning up the oceans, like what organizations such as The Ocean Cleanup are doing, is vital—but it's treating the symptom, not the cause. What Dolphin Dude teaches us is the importance of upstream solutions. We need to stop plastic pollution at the source by reducing production and moving away from a disposable culture. As our film’s message emphasizes: it’s not too late to act, but we must start now.

Marine biologist Sylvia Earle once said, “it is the worst of times but it is the best of times because we still have a chance.” The story of Dolphin Dude mirrors this sentiment, showing us that while the situation seems dire, there’s always hope if we come together to make change. Just like Dolphin Dude, it’s never too late to start caring and to fight for the ocean’s survival.

Stay tuned for more on how we can protect our seas, reduce plastic use, and be part of the solution alongside Dolphin Dude!