Tornado chaser! Stunning 'world-first' night-time images show a whale shark hoovering up a spiral of plankton in the ...

• Photographer Warren Baverstock, 49, hung a single light off the back of a boat to attract the phytoplankton
• It attracted an 11.4ft juvenile whale shark, which he captured rising to the surface to eat the plankton tornado
• Warren said that the photos - taken off the coast of Djibouti - show behaviour that he has never seen before 

By Iain Burns For Mailonline

Published: 12:20 BST, 30 March 2018 | Updated: 12:22 BST, 30 March 2018

This is the incredible moment a whale shark gulped down a never-before-photographed 'tornado' of plankton.

Warren Baverstock, 49, hung a single light off the back of a boat to attract the phytoplankton that the huge fish love to eat - and then waited patiently out in the dark ocean.

He was delighted when a 11.4ft juvenile whale shark rose from the depths to gobble up the plumes of gathering food, and he hopped in to capture silhouetted by the light.

Warren Baverstock, 49, hung a single light off the back of a boat to attract the phytoplankton that the huge fish love to eat - and then waited patiently out in the dark ocean. He was delighted when a 3.5m juvenile whale shark rose from the depths to gobble up the plumes of gathering food, and he hopped in to capture silhouetted by the light

Baverstock was astonished to witness the microscopic plankton display shoaling behaviour and spiral into a 4m tornado of 'fish food' off the coast of Africa. Pictured: The enormous fish opening its huge jaws 

Warren, from Devon, also captured an incredible photo of the whale shark rising below the swirling plume, with its enormous jaws parted as it feasted on the plankton

Warren, director of Aquarium Operations at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, took the photos during his fifth trip to study whale sharks in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa. He said: 'Just getting the whale shark was totally amazing'

Warren traveled to the Gulf of Tadjoura with a group of researchers to study the spot where hundreds of whale sharks gather to feed between September and January

Baverstock was astonished to witness the microscopic plankton display shoaling behaviour and spiral into a 13ft tornado of 'fish food' off the coast of Africa.

Warren, from Devon, also captured an incredible photo of the whale shark rising below the swirling plume, with its enormous jaws parted as it feasted on the plankton.

The aquarium director said he has never seen or heard of this behaviour and speculates it is microscopic plankton being hunted by larger plankton.

Warren, director of Aquarium Operations at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, took the photos during his fifth trip to study whale sharks in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa.

The beautiful fish was spotted off the coast of Djibouti on the Horn of Africa 

He said: 'Just getting the whale shark was totally amazing. The people on the boat were really wanting to get in too.

'But to see that tornado, it was the icing on the cake.

'To have the whale shark, with the cloud, was amazing, but then to see and then capture it with this spiraling tornado of plankton was just incredible.

'I was expecting to attract the plankton but had never seen that kind of behaviour. I don't know if it is natural behaviour.

'If you look very carefully, you can see all that microscopic plankton is almost pink.

'It is possible that because of the presence of even microscopic predators, that was causing the smaller plankton to tornado, as a shoaling affect.

'I took from this that in fact different types of plankton with the microscopic plankton being hunted by larger types of plankton.

'We an only assume this is the case, because this tornado affect is not something I have ever witnesses before.'

Warren traveled to the Gulf of Tadjoura with a group of researchers to study the spot where hundreds of whale sharks gather to feed between September and January.

Hoping for a 'dream shot' of the animal feasting, he moored a boat 100m from the shore in the middle of the night, and suspended an LED light from the gangplank.

It attracted phytoplankton, which are attracted to the light, and in turn draw in bigger predators that prey on them.

On the third night a whale shark approached, but when Warren got into the water with his camera kit, it moved away.

He jumped in and waited for more than an hour, hoping it would return.

'I was in the water in the pitch black and felt really vulnerable and quite scared,' he said.

'When you drop down into the water you can see the shaft of light from the boat, but that's it.

'I'm sure there are other predators around, and whale sharks aren't the only sharks in that area.'

After one hour and 15 minutes the beast returned, this time totally distracted by the swirling tornado tower of plankton, which it swooped up to eat, for ten to 15 minutes.

On the third night a whale shark approached, but when Warren got into the water with his camera kit, it moved away. He jumped in and waited for more than an hour, hoping it would return

After one hour and 15 minutes the beast returned, this time totally distracted by the swirling tornado tower of plankton, which it swooped up to eat, for ten to 15 minutes

Hoping for a 'dream shot' of the animal feasting, he moored a boat 100m from the shore in the middle of the night, and suspended an LED light from the gangplank

The whale shark is the world's largest known fish. It originated about 60 million years ago. The majestic animal is most often found in tropical waters and can live for about 70 years on average

Warren added: 'With the bad publicity that sharks get world wide, this shows that not all sharks are fierce predators that humans should fear - some are gentle giants'

These stunning shots show the shark from above water as it approaches the surface to catch its meal. Photographer Warren said: 'I managed to capture a unique moment which otherwise would never be seen'

The aquarium director (pictured) said he has never seen or heard of this behaviour and speculates it is microscopic plankton being hunted by larger plankton

He took the photos by free diving down, and shooting from under the whale, having to dive deep in order to get the whale, plankton and light in the same shot.

He added: 'These photographs are special in such that they were shot using available light, of which there was barely any.

'I managed to capture a unique moment which otherwise would never be seen.

'With the bad publicity that sharks get world wide, this shows that not all sharks are fierce predators that humans should fear - some are gentle giants.' 

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Study Links Seismic Surveys To Ocean Plankton Mortality

#MarineScience - New research raises questions over “significant disruption” to microscopic marine wildlife by seismic surveys — leading to calls for the Government to take notice.

According to The Irish Times, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide of the Irish Fish Processors’ and Exporters’ Association says the findings by researchers in Australia could explain anecdotal claims of reduced fish stocks in areas off the Irish coast where seismic surveys for oil and gas have taken place.

The new study, by marine scientists at the University of Tasmania and Curtin University, found that the air gun signals commonly used in seismic surveys of the seabed caused up to a 300% increase in ocean plankton deaths in the waters off Tasmania.

“Plankton underpin whole ocean productivity,” the study’s lead author Prof Robert McCauley said. “Their presence impacts right across the health of the ecosystem so it’s important we pay attention to their future.”

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

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Ocean scientists work to forecast huge plankton blooms in Arabian Sea

NEWS

26 March 2018

An operational forecast could help countries prepare for booms in these tiny marine creatures.

Jeff Tollefson

Search for this author in:

The green swirls in the Arabian Sea are blooms of a marine organism called Noctiluca, as seen from space.Credit: Aqua/MODIS/GSFC/NASA

Massive blooms of a marine organism called Noctiluca scintillans are currently threatening fisheries, tourism and desalination plants in the Arabian Sea. But scientists are developing forecasting models that could help countries in the region such as Oman predict when conditions seem ripe for a boom in these single-celled creatures, so that they can be better prepared.

The goal is to produce a mostly automated system that works like a weather forecast. It would ingest data on atmospheric and ocean conditions and kick out regular seven-day bloom forecasts — which would be available to businesses, governments and scientists.

Such a system could also help researchers to understand the spread of plankton blooms in the Arabian Sea and beyond in the decades to come, says Joaquim Goes, a biological oceanographer at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York, and leader of the modelling project. The blooms might provide a short-term boost to some commercial fisheries, but marine biodiversity could ultimately decline if Noctiluca continues to grow and dominate the ecosystem, he says.

The project is one of several efforts around the world to develop models that can be used to understand and forecast harmful algal blooms. As early as this year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects to launch its first operational forecast for a toxic plankton bloom called a red tide in the Gulf of Maine using a similarly advanced model, says Richard Stumpf, an oceanographer with NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Simulating, and ultimately predicting, such blooms is a difficult problem, Stumpf says, because researchers have to understand not just local water chemistry and ocean circulation but also the behavior of different plankton species.

Boom and bust

A huge bloom in the Arabian Sea that began in November 2017 is only now winding down. At its peak in January, it covered an area three times the size of Texas. “Noctiluca is completely overwhelming the system,” says Goes.

Goes and his team spent five weeks in Oman in January and February this year collecting samples and talking to local fishermen as well as industry and government officials. They discussed the forecasting system and learned what kind of bloom prediction information community members would need.

Although Goes’ current forecasting model is promising, the team hopes to improve its resolution and to incorporate information on Noctiluca’s tricky biology.

This minute organism has both plant and animal characteristics. It is a predator that thrives in the low-oxygen waters that have become more common in the region¹. But, much like corals, Noctiluca also has a symbiotic relationship with algae that live inside the cells. These algae contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which sensors on satellites can monitor from space, enabling researchers to track the blooms.

It’s unclear why major Noctiluca blooms now occur in oceans around the world, including in the Arabian Sea and the waters off India, Thailand and Indonesia. Researchers suspect that the release of raw sewage, which provides nutrients, and global warming may have roles.

A growing problem

The right conditions can stimulate Noctiluca blooms so thick that when the creatures die, their decomposing bodies suck most of the oxygen out of the seawater. In years past, the bloom’s expanding low-oxygen zone pushed sardines in search of oxygen onto some beaches in Oman; aquaculture farms have also been impacted by these zones.

This year, desalination plants, which draw in seawater, had to scale back their activities to prevent Noctiluca from physically clogging their systems.

The current model devised by Goes and his team for the Indian Ocean has a resolution of 3.5 kilometres. It’s able to forecast the bloom potential of two classes each of plant and animal plankton. The model reproduces the behaviour of the current bloom in the Arabian Sea fairly well, but it’s not yet good enough to produce a useful forecast for a local shrimp farm or a desalination plant, says Sergio deRada, an ocean modeller at the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The next step is to boost resolution to 1 kilometre or even 500 metres, and to represent Noctiluca itself in the model. The problem, says deRada, is that Noctiluca acts like both plant and animal plankton, which means that its behaviour is more complex than the plankton currently included in the model. “That’s why modelling it is going to be tough.”

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References

Related Articles

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Baca Di sini Bro https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-03698-0

Ocean scientists work to forecast huge plankton blooms in Arabian Sea

NEWS

26 March 2018

An operational forecast could help countries prepare for booms in these tiny marine creatures.

Jeff Tollefson

Search for this author in:

The green swirls in the Arabian Sea are blooms of a marine organism called Noctiluca, as seen from space.Credit: Aqua/MODIS/GSFC/NASA

Massive blooms of a marine organism called Noctiluca scintillans are currently threatening fisheries, tourism and desalination plants in the Arabian Sea. But scientists are developing forecasting models that could help countries in the region such as Oman predict when conditions seem ripe for a boom in these single-celled creatures, so that they can be better prepared.

The goal is to produce a mostly automated system that works like a weather forecast. It would ingest data on atmospheric and ocean conditions and kick out regular seven-day bloom forecasts — which would be available to businesses, governments and scientists.

Such a system could also help researchers to understand the spread of plankton blooms in the Arabian Sea and beyond in the decades to come, says Joaquim Goes, a biological oceanographer at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, New York, and leader of the modelling project. The blooms might provide a short-term boost to some commercial fisheries, but marine biodiversity could ultimately decline if Noctiluca continues to grow and dominate the ecosystem, he says.

The project is one of several efforts around the world to develop models that can be used to understand and forecast harmful algal blooms. As early as this year, NOAA expects to launch its first operational forecast for a toxic plankton bloom called a red tide in the Gulf of Maine using a similarly advanced model, says Richard Stumpf, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Simulating, and ultimately predicting, such blooms is a difficult problem, Stumpf says, because researchers have to understand not just local water chemistry and ocean circulation but also the behavior of different plankton species.

Boom and bust

A huge bloom in the Arabian Sea that began in November 2017 is only now winding down. At its peak in January, it covered an area three times the size of Texas. “Noctiluca is completely overwhelming the system,” says Goes.

Goes and his team spent five weeks in Oman in January and February this year collecting samples and talking to local fishermen as well as industry and government officials. They discussed the forecasting system and learned what kind of bloom prediction information community members would need.

Although Goes’ current forecasting model is promising, the team hopes to improve its resolution and to incorporate information on Noctiluca’s tricky biology.

This minute organism has both plant and animal characteristics. It is a predator that thrives in the low-oxygen waters that have become more common in the region¹. But, much like corals, Noctiluca also has a symbiotic relationship with algae that live inside the cells. These algae contain the green pigment chlorophyll, which sensors on satellites can monitor from space, enabling researchers to track the blooms.

It’s unclear why major Noctiluca blooms now occur in oceans around the world, including in the Arabian Sea and the waters off India, Thailand and Indonesia. Researchers suspect that the release of raw sewage, which provides nutrients, and global warming may have roles.

A growing problem

The right conditions can stimulate Noctiluca blooms so thick that when the creatures die, their decomposing bodies suck most of the oxygen out of the seawater. In years past, the bloom’s expanding low-oxygen zone pushed sardines in search of oxygen onto some beaches in Oman; aquaculture farms have also been impacted by these zones.

This year, desalination plants, which draw in seawater, had to scale back their activities to prevent Noctiluca from physically clogging their systems.

The current model devised by Goes and his team for the Indian Ocean has a resolution of 3.5 kilometres. It’s able to forecast the bloom potential of two classes each of plant and animal plankton. The model reproduces the behaviour of the current bloom in the Arabian Sea fairly well, but it’s not yet good enough to produce a useful forecast for a local shrimp farm or a desalination plant, says Sergio deRada, an ocean modeller at the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

The next step is to boost resolution to 1 kilometre or even 500 metres, and to represent Noctiluca itself in the model. The problem, says deRada, is that Noctiluca acts like both plant and animal plankton, which means that its behaviour is more complex than the plankton currently included in the model. “That’s why modelling it is going to be tough.”

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References

1. 1.

   Gomes, H. R. et al.Nature Commun.5, 4862 (2014).

2. 2.

   Goes, J. I., Thoppil, P. G., Gomes, H. R. & Fasullo, J. T. Science308, 545-547 (2005).

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Robot Microscopes Demystify Plankton, the Sea's Most Vital Residents

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New research finds seismic testing for oil and gas at sea can destroy plankton

The Government has been called on to review seismic testing for oil and gas in Irish waters, following a newly-published Australian study showing such exploration techniques can destroy plankton populations.

The research by the University of Tasmania and Curtin University found that air gun signals which are commonly used in marine petroleum exploration can cause a two to three-fold increase in mortality of adult and larval zooplankton.

The research prompted calls from within the fishing industry for the Government to review licensing terms for seismic testing in Irish waters.

Zooplankton underpin the health and productivity of global marine ecosystems and the new study found seismic testing has “significant and unacknowledged potential” for negative impact on “ocean ecosystem function and productivity”.

The research, published in the science journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, involved conducting tests using seismic air guns in the ocean off Southern Tasmania.

Prof Robert McCauley, lead author of the study, said the results raise questions about the “significant disruption” caused to plankton population levels.

“We counted the number of live and dead zooplankton collected in nets using a special staining technique and found that two to three times as many zooplankton were dead following the air gun operations than those collected before,” his colleague, Prof Jayson Semmens, has stated.

“Plankton underpin whole ocean productivity,” Prof McCauley said. “Their presence impacts right across the health of the ecosystem so it’s important we pay attention to their future.”

New research

Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, national secretary of the Irish Fish Processors’ and Exporters’ Association, said State authorities must take note of the new research, given the potential impact on marine resources.

Mr Ó Cinnéide, who is a board member of the Marine Institute but emphasised he was speaking in a personal capacity, said skippers working on prawn grounds on the Porcupine Bank off the west coast had long observed that stocks were not the same after seismic testing for oil and gas.

Fishermen recently interviewed for a report on the research by TG4’s Seacht Lá programme concurred with his view.

Mr Ó Cinnéide said research should be commissioned here, which might be tied into seismic survey licensing. Oil and gas companies already pay for research into the impact of seismic testing on whale and dolphin populations.

“Given the interest there is around the world on this topic, I don’t think it makes much sense for us to ignore it, “Mr Ó Cinnéide said.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment did not respond to the detail of the Australian study.

However, it said, as “regulator of petroleum authorisations, including seismic surveys”, it had “appropriate systems in place which aim to ensure that such surveys are carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner”.

The Government’s integrated marine plan, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, recognises the importance of Ireland’s rich marine biodiversity and ecosystems, it said, and seismic surveys are “assessed in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive”.

Environment effects

An evaluation of the potential environment effects of any proposed seismic survey is carried out by the department’s independent environmental consultants,it said.

Consultation also takes place with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it said, and “practices are regularly reviewed in accordance with international best practice in this area”.

The department said that any party undertaking a seismic survey is required to engage a fisheries liaison officer who carries out a pre-survey assessment of fishing activity in the area and is on board the vessel for the duration of the survey. A marine mammal observer must also be engaged on board a testing vessel for the duration of the survey, it said.

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New research finds seismic testing for oil and gas at sea can destroy plankton

The Government has been called on to review seismic testing for oil and gas in Irish waters, following a newly-published Australian study showing such exploration techniques can destroy plankton populations.

The research by the University of Tasmania and Curtin University found that air gun signals which are commonly used in marine petroleum exploration can cause a two to three-fold increase in mortality of adult and larval zooplankton.

The research prompted calls from within the fishing industry for the Government to review licensing terms for seismic testing in Irish waters.

Zooplankton underpin the health and productivity of global marine ecosystems and the new study found seismic testing has “significant and unacknowledged potential” for negative impact on “ocean ecosystem function and productivity”.

The research, published in the science journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, involved conducting tests using seismic air guns in the ocean off Southern Tasmania.

Prof Robert McCauley, lead author of the study, said the results raise questions about the “significant disruption” caused to plankton population levels.

“We counted the number of live and dead zooplankton collected in nets using a special staining technique and found that two to three times as many zooplankton were dead following the air gun operations than those collected before,” his colleague, Prof Jayson Semmens, has stated.

“Plankton underpin whole ocean productivity,” Prof McCauley said. “Their presence impacts right across the health of the ecosystem so it’s important we pay attention to their future.”

New research

Lorcán Ó Cinnéide, national secretary of the Irish Fish Processors’ and Exporters’ Association, said State authorities must take note of the new research, given the potential impact on marine resources.

Mr Ó Cinnéide, who is a board member of the Marine Institute but emphasised he was speaking in a personal capacity, said skippers working on prawn grounds on the Porcupine Bank off the west coast had long observed that stocks were not the same after seismic testing for oil and gas.

Fishermen recently interviewed for a report on the research by TG4’s Seacht Lá programme concurred with his view.

Mr Ó Cinnéide said research should be commissioned here, which might be tied into seismic survey licensing. Oil and gas companies already pay for research into the impact of seismic testing on whale and dolphin populations.

“Given the interest there is around the world on this topic, I don’t think it makes much sense for us to ignore it, “Mr Ó Cinnéide said.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment did not respond to the detail of the Australian study.

However, it said, as “regulator of petroleum authorisations, including seismic surveys”, it had “appropriate systems in place which aim to ensure that such surveys are carried out in an environmentally sustainable manner”.

The Government’s integrated marine plan, Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, recognises the importance of Ireland’s rich marine biodiversity and ecosystems, it said, and seismic surveys are “assessed in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive”.

Environment effects

An evaluation of the potential environment effects of any proposed seismic survey is carried out by the department’s independent environmental consultants,it said.

Consultation also takes place with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, it said, and “practices are regularly reviewed in accordance with international best practice in this area”.

The department said that any party undertaking a seismic survey is required to engage a fisheries liaison officer who carries out a pre-survey assessment of fishing activity in the area and is on board the vessel for the duration of the survey. A marine mammal observer must also be engaged on board a testing vessel for the duration of the survey, it said.

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IBM AI robots deployed to clean Earth's oceans

IBM is predicting it will change the world in the next five years by using robots powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to clean the oceans.

Continue Reading Below

The AI-powered microscopes will be able to monitor a collection of microscopic plankton floating in the sea.

“We want tiny microscopes that can be where the plankton lives, watching the plankton, watching what happens to them and using AI to determine the quality of the plankton,” IBM Research Senior Vice President Arvind Krishna told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on Monday.

Plankton, which controls two-thirds of the quality of air and water, is currently measured by analyzing the microscopic organisms months after they have been dead, according to Krishna.

“Having these tiny microscopes in the ocean, right next to the plankton, observing them, sending the signals up and having AI then monitor what happens gives us much better insight and an ability to better control the water and the oxygen,” he said.

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IBM researchers have partnered with governments and national science organizations to deploy the robot devices to analyze and interpret the data.

“As we get more, more knowledge, coupled with the AI that’s on the backend, it’ll give us a much better ability to control what happens and help the planet,” Krishna said.

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Mikroplastik Masuk Tubuh, Ini yang Bakal Terjadi Menurut Ahli

KOMPAS.com — Temuan kandungan mikroplastik dalam air mineral di botol plastik meresahkan masyarakat.

Terlebih, temuan yang mengambil sampel dari sejumlah negara itu melibatkan Indonesia.

Mikroplastik merupakan plastik berukuran mikroskopis atau tidak bisa dilihat dengan mata telanjang.

Mikroplastik pun disebut sebagai polutan lingkungan yang sulit terurai. Lalu, apa yang terjadi jika mikroplastik masuk ke dalam tubuh kita?

Baca juga: Ahli Temukan Air di Botol Aqua dan Nestle Mengandung Partikel Plastik

Seperti diberitakan Kompas.com, Prabang Setyono, ahli lingkungan hidup dari Universitas Sebelas Maret, mengungkapkan, mikroplastik berukuran tidak lebih dari 1 sampai 5 milimeter.

"Ini berarti ukurannya bisa lebih kecil ketimbang kutu rambut (Pulex irritans) atau plankton Sagitta setosa," kata Prabang kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Dr rer nat (Doctor Rerum Naturalium atau Doktor Ilmu Sains) Budiawan sependapat dengan Prabang. Ahli toksikologi kimia dari Universitas Indonesia ini menyebut bahwa kandungan dalam mikroplastik sulit terurai.

"Jika kandungan mikroplastik masuk ke dalam tubuh, ia akan tertahan di dalam organ dan sulit disekresikan (dikeluarkan). Akibatnya, organ tubuh bisa terganggu," kata Budiawan saat dihubungi Kompas.com secara terpisah, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Budiawan memberi contoh, apabila mikroplastik masuk ke dalam organ, seperti ginjal atau hati, sangat mungkin ia akan mengganggu fungsi kerja ginjal dan hati.

Jika benar ada kandungan mikroplastik di dalam air mineral botol kemasan, Budiawan mengatakan, harus dilakukan penelitian lebih lanjut untuk melihat zat-zat apa saja yang terkandung di dalamnya.

"Jika di dalamnya ada kandungan polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) yang merupakan unsur pembentuk material tahan api, harus diwaspadai. PBDE merupakan zat yang dapat menyebabkan enzim kesuburan terganggu," ujarnya.

Zat kimia yang terakumulasi di dalam tubuh juga merupakan faktor yang berkontribusi terhadap tumbuhnya kanker.

Menurut Budiawan, tubuh sebenarnya mampu menguraikan zat asing dan mengubahnya menjadi zat yang tidak berbahaya untuk tubuh agar bisa disekresikan melalui urine atau keringat.

Namun, kasus mikroplastik adalah hal berbeda.

"Plastik di lingkungan saja membutuhkan waktu sepuluh tahun sampai bisa terurai. Nah, sekarang bayangkan kalau itu terakumulasi di tubuh manusia. Sel tubuh nantinya tidak dapat berfungsi atau terganggu," ungkapnya.

Baca juga: Disebut Ada di Dalam Air Kemasan, Apa Itu Mikroplastik?

Terkait kasus ini, Budiawan berharap dilakukan penelitian lebih lanjut yang menggandeng banyak pihak, antara lain Kemenkes, KLHK, dan juga produsen air mineral.

Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat mendalami beberapa hal, seperti fungsi mikroplastik dalam air, serta apakah mikroplastik berasal dari sumber airnya atau terjadi pengelupasan plastik botol.

Apa kata ahli gizi?

Ahli gizi dari Persatuan Ahli Gizi Indonesia (Persagi), Dr Rita Ramayulis, DCN, MKes, mengatakan belum banyak penelitian tentang dampak mikroplastik.

"Namun, penelitian pada satwa liar diketahui bahwa mikroplastik dapat melepaskan senyawa kimia berupa logam berat. Tidak hanya itu, dikhawatirkan juga ada beberapa mikroorganisme patogen yang menempel pada mikroplastik," kata Rita melalui pesan singkat kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Ia menjelaskan, 90 persen mikroplastik yang ditelan manusia akan masuk melalui saluran cerna yang pada akhirnya dibuang melalui feces.

Namun, jika ada mikroba patogen ikut serta di dalam mikroplastik dan pertahanan di saluran cerna sedang lemah, akan sangat mungkin partikel masuk ke peredaran darah dan bisa menginfeksi tubuh.

"10 persen mikroplastik yang masuk ke dalam tubuh dapat mencapai ginjal dan hati, yang bisa terakumulasi. Pada akhirnya mengganggu berbagai keseimbangan dalam tubuh karena mikroplastik adalah benda asing bagi tubuh," ujarnya.

"Semua zat kimia yang terakumulasi dalam tubuh akan memberikan beberapa efek. Mulai dari efek keracunan, kerusakan jaringan, hingga kematian," ujarnya.

Salah satu hasil temuan

Sebuah laporan di jurnal NCBI, Juni 2017 pernah membahas isu mikroplastik dan dampaknya bagi kesehatan manusia.

Di dalam abstrak, tertulis bahwa mikroplastik berpotensi memicu risiko kesehatan.

Jika mikroplastik terhirup atau tertelan, ia akan menumpuk di dalam tubuh dan mengerahkan toksisitas untuk meningkatkan respon kekebalan tubuh.

"Ada potensi mikroplastik dapat memengaruhi kesehatan manusia," tulis laporan tersebut.

Baca juga : Heboh Temuan Mikroplastik dalam Air Kemasan, Ini Tanggapan Kemenkes

Sebelumnya Orb Media Network bersama dengan peneliti dari State University of New York mengumumkan telah meneliti 259 sampel botol air kemasan dari 11 merk lokal dan internasional.

Secara mengejutkan, keseluruhan merek tercemar mikroplastik. Merek Danone Aqua dan Nestle Pure Life yang diedarkan di Indonesia pun diketahui mengandung mikroplastik.

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Mikroplastik Masuk Tubuh, Ini yang Bakal Terjadi Menurut Ahli

KOMPAS.com — Temuan kandungan mikroplastik dalam air mineral di botol plastik meresahkan masyarakat.

Terlebih, temuan yang mengambil sampel dari sejumlah negara itu melibatkan Indonesia.

Mikroplastik merupakan plastik berukuran mikroskopis atau tidak bisa dilihat dengan mata telanjang.

Mikroplastik pun disebut sebagai polutan lingkungan yang sulit terurai. Lalu, apa yang terjadi jika mikroplastik masuk ke dalam tubuh kita?

Baca juga: Ahli Temukan Air di Botol Aqua dan Nestle Mengandung Partikel Plastik

Seperti diberitakan Kompas.com, Prabang Setyono, ahli lingkungan hidup dari Universitas Sebelas Maret, mengungkapkan, mikroplastik berukuran tidak lebih dari 1 sampai 5 milimeter.

"Ini berarti ukurannya bisa lebih kecil ketimbang kutu rambut (Pulex irritans) atau plankton Sagitta setosa," kata Prabang kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Sependapat dengan Prabang, Dr rer nat (Doctor Rerum Naturalium atau Doktor Ilmu Sains) Budiawan, ahli toksikologi kimia dari Universitas Indonesia, yang dihubungi Kompas.com secara terpisah menambahkan bahwa kandungan dalam mikroplastik sulit terurai.

"Jika kandungan mikroplastik masuk ke dalam tubuh, ia akan tertahan di dalam organ dan sulit disekresikan (dikeluarkan). Akibatnya, organ tubuh bisa terganggu," kata Budiawan kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Budiawan memberi contoh, apabila mikroplastik masuk ke dalam organ, seperti ginjal atau hati, sangat mungkin ia akan mengganggu fungsi kerja ginjal dan hati.

Jika benar ada kandungan mikroplastik di dalam air mineral botol kemasan, Budiawan mengatakan, harus dilakukan penelitian lebih lanjut untuk melihat zat-zat apa saja yang terkandung di dalamnya.

"Jika di dalamnya ada kandungan polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) yang merupakan unsur pembentuk material tahan api, harus diwaspadai. PBDE merupakan zat yang dapat menyebabkan enzim kesuburan terganggu," ujarnya.

Zat kimia yang terakumulasi di dalam tubuh juga merupakan faktor yang berkontribusi terhadap tumbuhnya kanker.

Menurut Budiawan, tubuh sebenarnya mampu menguraikan zat asing dan mengubahnya menjadi zat yang tidak berbahaya untuk tubuh agar bisa disekresikan melalui urine atau keringat.

Namun, untuk kasus mikroplastik, menurut Budiawan, ini hal yang sulit.

"Plastik di lingkungan saja membutuhkan waktu sepuluh tahun sampai bisa terurai. Nah, sekarang bayangkan kalau itu terakumulasi di tubuh manusia. Sel tubuh nantinya tidak dapat berfungsi atau terganggu," ungkapnya.

Baca juga: Disebut Ada di Dalam Air Kemasan, Apa Itu Mikroplastik?

Terkait kasus ini, Budiawan berharap dilakukan penelitian lebih lanjut yang menggandeng banyak pihak, antara lain Kemenkes, KLHK, dan juga produsen air mineral.

Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menyoroti beberapa hal, seperti apakah fungsi mikroplastik dalam air, kemudian juga mencari tahu mikroplastik tersebut berasal dari sumber airnya atau terjadi pengelupasan dari botol plastik.

Apa kata ahli gizi?

Ahli gizi dari Persatuan Ahli Gizi Indonesia (Persagi), Dr Rita Ramayulis, DCN, MKes, mengatakan belum banyak penelitian tentang dampak mikroplastik.

"Namun, penelitian pada satwa liar diketahui bahwa mikroplastik dapat melepaskan senyawa kimia berupa logam berat. Tidak hanya itu, dikhawatirkan juga ada beberapa mikroorganisme patogen yang menempel pada mikroplastik," kata Rita melalui pesan singkat kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Ia menjelaskan, 90 persen mikroplastik yang ditelan manusia akan masuk melalui saluran cerna yang pada akhirnya dibuang melalui feces.

Namun, jika ada mikroba patogen ikut serta di dalam mikroplastik dan pertahanan di saluran cerna sedang lemah, akan sangat mungkin partikel masuk ke peredaran darah dan bisa menginfeksi tubuh.

"10 persen mikroplastik yang masuk ke dalam tubuh dapat mencapai ginjal dan hati yang bisa terakumulasi. Pada akhirnya mengganggu berbagai keseimbangan dalam tubuh karena mikroplastik adalah benda asing bagi tubuh," ujarnya.

"Semua zat kimia yang terakumulasi dalam tubuh akan memberikan beberapa efek. Mulai dari efek keracunan, kerusakan jaringan, hingga kematian," ujarnya.

Salah satu hasil temuan

Sebuah laporan yang dipublikasikan di NCBI pada Juni 2017 pernah membahas tentang isu mikroplastik dan dampaknya pada kesehatan manusia.

Di dalam abstrak laporan tersebut dikatakan bahwa mikroplastik berpotensi memicu risiko bagi kesehatan.

Jika mikroplastik terhirup atau tertelan, ia akan menumpuk di dalam tubuh dan mengerahkan toksisitas untuk meningkatkan respon kekebalan tubuh.

"Ada potensi mikroplastik dapat memengaruhi kesehatan manusia," tulis laporan tersebut.

Baca juga : Heboh Temuan Mikroplastik dalam Air Kemasan, Ini Tanggapan Kemenkes

Sebelumnya Orb Media Network bersama dengan peneliti dari State University of New York mengumumkan telah meneliti 259 sampel botol air kemasan dari 11 merk lokal dan internasional.

Secara mengejutkan, keseluruhan merek tercemar mikroplastik. Merek Danone Aqua dan Nestle Pure Life yang diedarkan di Indonesia pun diketahui mengandung mikroplastik.

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Disebut Ada di Dalam Air Kemasan, Apa Itu Mikroplastik?

KOMPAS.com — Masyarakat kini sedang dihebohkan dengan penemuan peneliti tentang partikel plastik di sejumlah air kemasan.

Hal ini wajar karena sifat partikel plastik yang sulit terurai secara sempurna ini membuat mereka menjadi ancaman bagi lingkungan, khususnya kesehatan manusia.

Menurut ahli lingkungan hidup dari Universitas Sebelas Maret, Prabang Setyono, mikroplastik adalah plastik dengan ukuran mikroskopis atau ukuran yang tidak bisa terlihat dengan mata telanjang.

"Partikel serat plastik bersifat mikroskopis, dan selama ini sebagian besar ukuran mikroplastik tidak lebih dari 5 milimeter. Ada juga yang menyebut ukurannya dari 1 milimeter. Ini berarti ukurannya bisa lebih kecil ketimbang kutu rambut (Pulex irritans) atau plankton Sagitta setosa," kata Prabang kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Baca juga: Ahli Temukan Air di Botol Aqua dan Nestle Mengandung Partikel Plastik

Apabila terakumulasi dalam jumlah tertentu, mikroplastik berpotensi menganggu metabolisme tubuh manusia. 

"Contohnya, seekor ikan yang terkontaminasi mikroplastik di habitatnya dikonsumsi manusia. Secara akumulatif, mikroplastik akan terkonsentrasi di dalam tubuh manusia dan pada jumlah tertentu akan mengakibatkan gangguan metabolisme tubuh. Namun, hal ini harus melalui penelitian lebih lanjut," kata Prabang.

Sementara itu, ahli oseanografi LIPI, Muhammad Reza Cordova, mengatakan, berdasarkan sumbernya, mikroplastik dapat dikelompokkan menjadi dua, yakni primer dan sekunder.

"Kelompok primer itu berarti mikroplastik memang dibuat dalam ukuran kecil, biasanya dipakai dalam kosmetik, yang sering disebut microbeads," kata Reza kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Baca juga: LIPI Akan Kaji Dampak Bahaya Mikroplastik bagi Biota Laut

Dia melanjutkan, kelompok sekunder adalah plastik yang ukurannya mengecil karena faktor alami seperti gelombang laut, panas ultraviolet, dan bakteri. Contohnya, tas kresek di laut yang ukurannya mengecil karena pengaruh alam.

Sebelumnya diberitakan, Orb Media, sebuah organisasi jurnalisme, melakukan penelitian terhadap 11 merek minuman kemasan yang bertaraf internasional dan lokal.

Tujuan penelitian mereka adalah meneliti kandungan plastik di dalam botol kemasan. Mereka menggandeng peneliti dari State University of New York di Amerika Serikat untuk melakukan penelitian.

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Disebut Ada di dalam Air Kemasan, Apa Itu Mikroplastik?

KOMPAS.com - Masyarakat kini sedang dihebohkan dengan penemuan peneliti tentang partikel plastik di sejumlah air kemasan.

Hal ini wajar saja karena sifat partikel plastik yang sulit terurai secara sempurna membuat mereka menjadi ancaman bagi lingkungan, khususnya kesehatan manusia.

Menurut ahli lingkungan hidup dari Universitas Sebelas Maret, Prabang Setyono, mikroplastik adalah plastik dengan ukuran mikroskopis atau ukuran yang tidak bisa terlihat dengan mata telanjang.

"Partikel serat plastik bersifat mikroskopis, dan selama ini sebagian besar ukuran mikroplastik tidak lebih dari 5 milimeter. Ada juga yang menyebut ukurannya dari 1 milimeter. Ini berarti ukurannya bisa lebih kecil ketimbang kutu rambut (Pulex irritans) atau plankton Sagitta setosa," kata Prabang kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Baca juga : Ahli Temukan Air di Botol Aqua dan Nestle Mengandung Partikel Plastik

Apabila terakumulasi dalam jumlah tertentu, mikroplastik berpotensi menganggu metabolisme tubuh manusia. 

"Contohnya seekor ikan yang terkontaminasi mikroplastik di habitatnya, dikonsumsi manusia. Secara akumulatif, mikroplastik akan terkonsentrasi di dalam tubuh manusia dan pada jumlah tertentu, akan mengakibatkan gangguan metabolisme tubuh. Namun, hal ini harus melalui penelitian lebih lanjut," kata Prabang.

Sementara itu, ahli oseanografi LIPI, Muhammad Reza Cordova, berkata bahwa berdasarkan sumbernya, mikroplastik dapat dikelompokan menjadi dua, primer dan sekunder.

"Kelompok primer itu berarti mikroplastik memang dibuat dalam ukuran kecil. Biasanya dipakai dalam kosmetik, yang sering disebut microbeads," kata Reza kepada Kompas.com, Jumat (16/3/2018).

Baca juga : LIPI Akan Kaji Dampak Bahaya Mikroplastik bagi Biota Laut

Dia melanjutkan, (sedangkan) kelompok sekunder adalah plastik yang ukurannya mengecil karena faktor alami seperti gelombang laut, panas ultraviolet, dan bakteri. Contohnya, tas kresek di laut, yang ukurannya mengecil karena pengaruh alam.

Sebelumnya diberitakan bahwa Orb Media, sebuah organisasi jurnalisme, melakukan penelitian terhadap 11 merek minuman kemasan yang bertaraf dunia dan lokal.

Tujuan penelitian mereka adalah meneliti kandungan plastik di dalam botol kemasan. Mereka menggandeng peneliti dari State University of New York di Amerika Serikat untuk melakukan penelitian.

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West Coast waters returning to normal but salmon catches lagging

Ocean conditions off most of the U.S. West Coast are returning roughly to average, after an extreme marine heat wave from about 2014 to 2016 disrupted the California Current Ecosystem and shifted many species beyond their traditional range, according to a new report from NOAA Fisheries' two marine laboratories on the West Coast. Some warm waters remain off the Pacific Northwest, however.

The Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Northwest Fisheries Science Center presented their annual "California Current Ecosystem Status Report" to the Pacific Fishery Management Council at the Council's meeting in Rohnert Park, Calif., on Friday, March 9. The California Current encompasses the entire West Coast marine ecosystem, and the report informs the Council about conditions and trends in the ecosystem that may affect marine species and fishing in the coming year.

"The report gives us an important glimpse at what the science is saying about the species and resources that we manage and rely on in terms of our West Coast economy," said Phil Anderson of Westport, Wash., the Council Chair. "The point is that we want to be as informed as we can be when we make decisions that affect those species, and this report helps us do that."

Unusually warm ocean temperatures, referred to as "the Blob," encompassed much of the West Coast beginning about 2014, combining with an especially strong El Nino pattern in 2015. The warm conditions have now waned, although some after-effects remain.

• Feeding conditions have improved for California sea lions and seabirds that experienced mass die-offs caused by shifts in their prey during the Blob.
• Plankton species, the foundation of the marine food web, have shifted back slightly toward fat-rich, cool-water species that improve the growth and survival of salmon and other fish.
• Recent research surveys have found fewer juvenile salmon, and consequently adult salmon returns will likely remain depressed for a few years until successive generations benefit from improving ocean conditions.
• Reports of whale entanglements in fishing gear have remained very high for the fourth straight year, as whales followed prey to inshore areas and ran into fishing gear such as pots and traps.
• Severe low-oxygen conditions in the ocean water spanned the Oregon Coast from July to September 2017, causing die-offs of crabs and other species.

Even as the effects of the Blob and El Nino dissipate, the central and southern parts of the West Coast face low snow pack and potential drought in 2018 that could put salmon at continued risk as they migrate back up rivers to spawn.

"Overall we're seeing some positive signs, as the ocean returns to a cooler and generally more productive state," said Toby Garfield, a research scientist and Acting Director of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center. "We're fortunate that we have the data from previous years to help us understand what the trends are, and how that matters to West Coast fishermen and communities."

NOAA Fisheries' scientists compile the California Current Ecosystem Status Report from ocean surveys and other monitoring efforts along the West Coast. The tracking revealed "a climate system still in transition in 2017," as surface ocean conditions return to near normal. Deeper water remained unusually warm, especially in the northern part of the California Current. Warm-water species, such as leaner plankton species often associated with subtropical waters, have lingered in these more-northern zones.

One of the largest and most extensive low-oxygen zones ever recorded off the West Coast prevailed off the Oregon Coast last summer, probably driven by low-oxygen water upwelled from the deep ocean, the report said.

While the cooling conditions off the West Coast began to support more cold-water plankton rich in the fatty acids that salmon need to grow, salmon may need more time to show the benefits, the report said. Juvenile salmon sampled off the Northwest Coast in 2017 were especially small and scarce, suggesting that poor feeding conditions off the Columbia River Estuary may remain.

Juvenile salmon that enter the ocean this year amid the gradually improving conditions will not return from the ocean to spawn in the Columbia and other rivers for another two years or more, so fishermen should not expect adult salmon numbers to improve much until then.

"These changes occur gradually, and the effects appear only with time," said Chris Harvey, a fisheries biologist at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and coauthor of the report. "The advantage of doing this monitoring and watching these indicators is that we can get a sense of what is likely to happen in the ecosystem and how that is likely to affect communities and economies that are closely tied to these waters."

Story Source:

Materials provided by NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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Plankton pojídá toxické plasty, zjistili vědci. Dokáže vyčistit oceán?

Žije na konci potravinového řetězce, může ale zachránit znečištěný oceán. Vědci zjistili, že miniaturní plankton krill pojídá mikroplasty. Podle nového výzkumu dokáže pozřít plast menší než pět milimetrů. Ze svého těla je pak vyloučí ještě v menší podobě.

včera 15:11

SDÍLEJ:

S překvapivým zjištěním přišla výzkumnice Amanda Dawson, která zkoumala polyethylenové plasty používané v kosmetických výrobcích. V akvárii s plasty chovala právě krilly. Informovala o tom agentura AFP.

„Zjistili jsme, že krill rozbíjí plasty, je to úžasné,“ ohlásila výzkumnice. „Zatím nevíme, jaké to bude mít důsledky, ale budeme na tom dále pracovat,“ dodala.

Exkrement, který krill vyloučí, dosahuje velikosti 78 procent původního plastu.

„Je to nový způsob, jak mikroplasty reagují s ekosystémem,“ vysvětluje spoluautor studie Kawaguchi.

Podle něj by mohl podobně fungovat i další zooplankton.

Dodává ale, že není důvod k radosti. Podle něj je totiž možné, že toxické látky se tak dostanou do celého potravinového řetězce.

Problém znečištění oceánů plasty je celosvětovým problémem.

Agentura AFP uvádí, že v oceánu skončí každý rok přes osm milionů tun plastu. Zemře kvůli němu ročně jeden milion mořských ptáků, 100 tisíc mořských savců a nespočet ryb. Na boj proti znečištění se dávají miliardy dolarů ročně.

V roce 2050 by plovoucí odpadky mohly početně převýšit ryby.

Krill je jeden z nejrozšířenějších živočichů na světě. Pluje v oceánu v obrovských hejnech a je potravou pro velké mořské savce. Dožívá se i 10 let.

Autor: Pavel Kopecký

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Plankton pojídá toxické plasty, zjistili vědci. Dokáže vyčistit oceán?

Žije na konci potravinového řetězce, může ale zachránit znečištěný oceán. Vědci zjistili, že miniaturní plankton krill pojídá mikroplasty. Podle nového výzkumu dokáže pozřít plast menší než pět milimetrů. Ze svého těla je pak vyloučí ještě v menší podobě.

dnes 15:11

SDÍLEJ:

S překvapivým zjištěním přišla výzkumnice Amanda Dawson, která zkoumala polyethylenové plasty používané v kosmetických výrobcích. V akvárii s plasty chovala právě krilly. Informovala o tom agentura AFP.

„Zjistili jsme, že krill rozbíjí plasty, je to úžasné,“ ohlásila výzkumnice. „Zatím nevíme, jaké to bude mít důsledky, ale budeme na tom dále pracovat,“ dodala.

Exkrement, který krill vyloučí, dosahuje velikosti 78 procent původního plastu.

„Je to nový způsob, jak mikroplasty reagují s ekosystémem,“ vysvětluje spoluautor studie Kawaguchi.

Podle něj by mohl podobně fungovat i další zooplankton.

Dodává ale, že není důvod k radosti. Podle něj je totiž možné, že toxické látky se tak dostanou do celého potravinového řetězce.

Problém znečištění oceánů plasty je celosvětovým problémem.

Agentura AFP uvádí, že v oceánu skončí každý rok přes osm milionů tun plastu. Zemře kvůli němu ročně jeden milion mořských ptáků, 100 tisíc mořských savců a nespočet ryb. Na boj proti znečištění se dávají miliardy dolarů ročně.

V roce 2050 by plovoucí odpadky mohly početně převýšit ryby.

Krill je jeden z nejrozšířenějších živočichů na světě. Pluje v oceánu v obrovských hejnech a je potravou pro velké mořské savce. Dožívá se i 10 let.

Autor: Pavel Kopecký

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Penyelam Asal Inggris Tunjukan Betapa Kotornya Nusa Penida

TRIBUN-VIDEO.COM - Seorang penyelam bernama Rich Horner, membagikan pengalamannya menyelam di laut Nusa Penida, Bali.

Laut yang diarunginya tersebut dikenal dengan sebutan Manta Point lantaran banyak ikan pari manta yang berkumpul di tempat tersebut.

Video tersebut diunggah Horner pada 3 Maret 2018 kemarin dan menjadi viral di beberapa situs berita internasional, seperti The Guardian dan BBC.

Rich Horner merekam dirinya sendiri yang tengah menyelam di dalam laut.

Di sekitarnya, tampak banyak sampah plastik terapung mengikuti arus ombak laut bersamaan dengan ikan-ikan yang berenang ke sana ke mari.

Dalam video yang berdurasi 2 menit 34 detik tersebut Horner mencoba memperlihatkan sisi lain laut Bali yang menjadi destinasi wisata favorit para turis.

"The ocean currents brought us in a lovely gift of a slick of jellyfish, plankton, leaves, branches, fronds, sticks, etc....

Oh, and some plastic. Some plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic cups, plastic sheets, plastic buckets, plastic sachets, plastic straws, plastic baskets, plastic bags, more plastic bags, plastic, plastic, so much plastic!

Surprise, surprise, there weren't many Mantas there at the cleaning station today... They mostly decided not to bother.

(Arus laut membawakan kita hadiah terbaik, ubur-ubur, plankton, daun, ranting, palem, batang, dan lain-lain.
Oh, dan beberapa plastik. Tas plastik, botol plastik, gelas plastik, lembaran plastik, keranjang plastik, kemasan plastik, sedotan plastik, dan masih banyak plastik lainnya!

Kejutan, tidak banyak Manta yang berkumpul di cleaning station hari ini. Mereka memutuskan untuk tidak mengganggu)," tulis Rich Horner dalam Facebooknya.

Baca: Kartu Indonesia Sehat Tidak Berguna Bagi Korban Bom Bali, Chusnul Khotimah

Baca:  Mereka yang Lolos Jadi Anggota Polri

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Penyelam Inggris mengarungi sampah di Nusa Penida, ini kata pemerintah

Seorang penyelam Inggris, Rich Horner merekam kondisi laut di dekat Nusa Penida, Bali yang dipenuhi oleh sampah plastik dan videonya tersebar luas.

Kepada BBC Indonesia, pemerintah Indonesia mengakui bahwa kondisi sampah di lautan memang sudah mencemaskan.

Dalam video yang disebar lewat internet, Rich tampak berenang dan menyelam dengan ditemani oleh sampah-sampah plastik. Bahkan pada satu bagian, ia berenang di bawah sampah-sampah yang terapung.

"Saya pikir sampah-sampah ini berasal dari Indonesia. Tapi dengan banyaknya arus yang melintas di perairan ini, bisa saja sampah ini berasal dari utara, yakni Asia Tenggara," kata Rich.

Terlihat juga sampah-sampah tersebut bergerak terbawa arus yang ada di sekitar Rich dengan ikan-ikan yang ikut berenang bersama sampah-sampah plastik tersebut.

"Kita melihat kadang membentuk awan mengapung dan kemudian pergi dibawa arus dalam hitungan jam," kata Rich. "Jumlahnya mengerikan."

Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan, Susi Pudjiastuti, menyampaikan rasa sedihnya melihat kondisi laut yang dipenuhi sampah plastik tersebut.

"Ini bukan yang pertama kali," tegasnya.

Susi kembali menekankan pesan yang selalu diulang-ulang untuk seluruh masyarakat agar tidak membuang sampah ke laut: "Kita harus menjadikan laut sebagai beranda depan rumah, bukan di belakang."

Konfirmasi dari Nusa Penida

Kondisi banyaknya sampah plastik yang tergambar dalam video Rich Horner diakui oleh salah satu pengusaha penyelaman di Nusa Penida, Andri Yusuf.

Menurut Andri, kejadian sampah-sampah itu berkumpul di satu tempat biasanya dipengaruhi oleh air hujan dan arus laut: "Tapi tidak selamanya seperti itu."

Andri menambahkan, sejatinya sampah plastik di lautan sudah banyak, sehingga pada saat-saat tertentu mereka berkumpul di satu titik. "Pada musim tertentu, sampah di laut tiba-tiba berkumpul," ujarnya.

Berkumpulnya sampah di satu titik sebenarnya tidak hanya terjadi di Bali, tambah Andri, karena tempat usaha penyelamannya di Sulawesi juga pernah mengalami hal serupa.

Dan para wisatawan terutama yang berasal dari mancanegara kerap menanyakan hal tersebut kepada Andri.

"Kenapa Indonesia tidak bisa mengurus sampah seperti ini?" kata Andri menirukan pertanyaan tamunya.

Menjawab itu, Andri mengatakan hanya bisa melakukan hal-hal skala kecil atau lokal tempat dia berada: "Misalnya mendidik warga sekitar, mengumpulkan sampah di pantai, dan sebagainya."

"Untuk skala yang lebih besar, saya sudah tidak punya kemampuan," kata Andri dan mendorong pemerintah untuk segera melakukan sesuatu terhadap kondisi sampah-sampah plastik.

Yang dilakukan pemerintah untuk sampah plastik laut

Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan menyatakan sampah plastik di lautan adalah tanggung jawab bersama.

"Karena sampah plastik yang dibawa oleh arus laut yang secara periodik (musim tertentu) muncul di pesisir Bali," kata Rosa Vivien Ratnawati, Direktur Jenderal Pengelolaan Limbah, Sampah dan Bahan Beracun Berbahaya, kepada BBC Indonesia.

Seperti dugaan Rich Horner dan Andri Yusuf, Rosa menyebut sampah-sampah dalam video itu dibawa arus laut dari tempat lain, bahkan negara lain: "Bukan dari Pulau Bali dan masyarakat Bali."

Sampah plastik yang ada di lautan saat ini sudah pada taraf mencemaskan dengan perkirakan setidaknya delapan juta ton sampah plastik mengalir ke laut setiap tahunnya di seluruh dunia.

Jumlah plastik di lautan itu bisa menutupi area seluas 700.000 hingga 15 juta kilometer persegi. Bahkan penelitian Our Ocean 2017, memperlihatkan jumlah sampah mikro plastik sudah melebihi jumlah plankton yakni hingga 6:1.

Sampah plastik dalam ukuran mini dan mirip plankton dimakan oleh ikan dan biota laut sehingga sampah-sampah mikro pada gilirannya pula menjadi santapan manusia lewat hidangan laut.

Dalam sebuah studi oleh Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar di Pasar Taotere, di dalam 28% ikan dari 55 spesies yang menjadi sampel, bisa ditemukan kandungan plastik antara 0,1 sampai 1,6 mm di perutnya.

Menteri Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, Siti Nurbaya, pernah membenarkan kondisi darurat sampah di Indonesia: "Pada 2005 timbunan sampah 11 persen, naik jadi 15 persen pada 2015."

Indonesia menduduki posisi kedua sebagai penghasil sampah plastik dunia, setelah Cina, dengan data Kementerian LHK menyebutkan sampah plastik adalah 14% dari total sampah Indonesia, sekaligus sampah padat kedua setelah sampah organik.

Sampah padat lainnya di bawah plastik adalah kertas (9%), karet (5,5%), logam (4,3%), kain (3,5%), kaca (1,7%), dan lainnya (2,4%).

Menteri Koordinator Kemaritiman Luhut Binsar Panjaitan juga mengatakan perlu kerja sama internasional untuk menangani sampah plastik di laut dan meminta agar tidak saling menyalahkan satu sama lain.

"Terkadang orang melihat Indonesia sebagai korban (sampah plastik di laut) karena posisi yang strategis," kata Luhut di Konferensi Kelautan Dunia PBB di New York, pada pertengahan tahun lalu.

Selain sampah, tambah Luhut saat itu, ada juga masalah kelautan lainnya seperti illegal fishing dan kerusakan alam laut: "Yang utama adalah bagaimana mengatasi masalah sampah, illegal fishing, lalu mengimplementasikannya."

Untuk itu, pemerintah merencanakan untuk memasukkan masalah sampah kelautan dalam kurikulum sekolah, bersamaan dengan upaya meminimalkan pembuangan sampah ke laut.

Pemerintah Indonesia juga menyatakan komitmennya dalam mengurangi sampah plastik pantai hingga 70% pada 2025, yang disampaikan dalam konferensi COP 23 UNFCCC di Bonn, Jerman, akhir tahun lalu.

"Dalam arti lain, pada tahun 2025 sudah zero waste (nol sampah). Tidak ada lagi sampah yang dibuang ke media lingkungan, apalagi laut," pungkas Roza Vivien Ratnawati, Direktur Jenderal Pengelolaan Limbah, Sampah dan Bahan Beracun Berbahaya.

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Selain Plankton, Ini Dia 9 Penjahat Paling Sadis yang Pernah Muncul di SpongeBob SquarePants

Serial kartun SpongeBob SquarePants tentu tak lepas dari kehadiran karakter-karakter jahat. Mungkin yang paling terkenal adalah Plankton. Makhluk kecil berwarna hijau ini memang menjadi antagonis utama di Bikini Bottom.

Diceritakan jika Plankton sangat menginginkan resep Krabby Patty yang dimiliki oleh Mr. Krabs. Berbagai rencana jahat pun Plankton lakukan hanya untuk mencuri rahasia resep Krabby Patty yang sebenarnya sudah pernah diungkap di artikel Duniaku.net. Sayangnya, Plankton selalu saja bernasib sial dan mengalami kegagalan.

Nah Plakton bukan satu-satunya karakter penjahat di SpongeBob lho. Masih banyak lagi villain yang tak kalah kejam dan sadis yang pernah muncul dalam episode SpongeBob SquarePants. Siapa saja mereka? Simak daftarnya di bawah ini!

1

Man Ray

Karakter penjahat di SpongeBob pertama dalah Man Ray. Ia merupakan musuh terbesar dua superhero Bikini Bottom, Mermaid Man dan Barnacle Boy. Ia pertama kali muncul dalam episode Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy III. Man Ray sendiri adalah sebuah bentuk parodi yang dibuat Stephen Hillenburg untuk musuh utama Aquaman, Black Manta.

Ketika kemunculan pertama kalinya, Man Ray yang dipenjara berhasil mengelabui Patrick dan SpongeBob untuk membebaskannya. Ia pun berhasil lolos dan mencuri beberapa senjata milik Mermaid Man dan Barnacle Boy. Alhasil Man Ray bisa mengeluarkan laser dari tangannya.

Namun, salah satu kelemahan terbesar dari Man Ray adalah ikat pinggang yang terpasang. Jika seseorang menekan remot ikat pinggang tersebut, maka ikat pinggangnya akan bergetar dan Man Ray merasa geli yang membuatnya menderita.

Cara itu yang digunakan SpongeBob untuk akhirnya mengalahkan Man Ray yang berbuat onar di Bikini Bottom.

2

Dirty Bubble

Sama seperti Man Ray, Dirty Bubble adalah penjahat di SpongeBob yang merupakan musuh utama pasangan superhero Mermaid Man dan Barnacle Boy. Ia muncul pertama kali dalam episode Mermaid Man dan Barnacle Boy II.

Seperti namanya, Dirty Bubble berbentuk gelembung raksasa, transparan, berwarna cokelat, dan terlihat kotor. Sebagai gelembung, Dirty Bubble memiliki kemampuan mengapung dan terbang di udara. Dia juga bisa “memakan” dan menjebak setiap orang di dalam tubuhnya.

Dan tentu saja, kelemahan Dirty Bubble adalah segala benda runcing yang bisa membuatnya meledak seketika. Hal ini dilakukan oleh SpongeBob saat tak sengaja menyentuhkan ujung pensil lancip ke tubuh Dirty Bubble.

3

Sea Bear

Apa jadinya jika seekor Piranha menikah dengan beruang grizzly? Mungkin hasilnya adalah makhluk mengerikan yang disebut Sea Bear. Salah satu karakter penjahat di SpongeBob ini muncul pertama kali dalam episode The Camping Episode, yakni saat SpongeBob, Patrick, dan Squidward kamping di alam liar. Padahal sih, cuma lima meter dari rumah masing-masing.

Terdapat beberapa hal yang dapat memancing Sea Bear muncul. Di antaranya adalah, saat Squidward bermain klarinet dengan buruk, menggoyang-goyangkan senter, memakai sepatu badut dan topi sombrero.

Namun, serangan Sea Bear bisa dicegah dengan menggambar anti-sea bear yakni sebuah lingkaran di pasir. Tapi jangan sampai menggambar oval yang akan membuat Sea Bear tetap bisa menyerang. Hal ini yang dilakukan oleh Squidward.

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CONTINUE READING BELOW

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Eits masih banyak karakter penjahat di SpongeBob SquarePants selain Plankton. Penasaran? Simak di halaman selanjutnya!

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