Wicked Problem
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)
“Only we humans make waste that nature can’t digest.”
Captain Charles J Moore
Oceanographer
Discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
What is it?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is located in the eastern part of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (Lebreton et al., 2018). It is the largest accumulation of plastic in the ocean and is sometimes referred to as the “Garbage Island.” It is an area containing approximately 100,000 tonnes of garbage, primarily plastics (The Ocean Cleanup, 2025c). It continues to accumulate and threatens the health of our Oceans, marine life, land animals, and human beings.
Why is it a Wicked Problem
A wicked problem is a problem that cannot be easily defined or solved. There are many phrases that outline the complexity of a wicked problem a few that directly apply the the GPGP being that there is no stopping rule, there is no immediate solution, it is is a symptom of other problems and the way one defines the problem determines how it can be solved (Rittel & Webber, 1973).
What scales are involved?
Every concept, stakeholder, and environmental element on this map directly impacts and/or is impacted by the GPGP. This map highlights some key stakeholders, but only covers the surface of the very complex wicked problem that is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Next Steps..
Developing Lost Fishing Gear Reporting Policies
There are currently many waste reduction polices in place in countries that are major contributors to the GPGP (Asia, North America). But, these policies do not mandate or hold large fisheries responsible for the large amount of fishing gear that they abandon and or lose in the ocean. In order for large fisheries to be more conscious regarding their marine waste, and potentially reduce the amount that is abandoned, a mandatory reporting policy should be put in place.
Canada has a “Mandatory Lost Gear Reporting” policy (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2025). This policy could be reviewed as a framework for other countries to follow.
Improving Inefficient Policy Enforcement
Policies in countries that are major contributors to the GPGP (Asia, North America) that focus upon the root of the problem, inflow of plastics from rivers and land, face major inefficiencies regarding the enforcement of said policies (Sawar et al., 2021)
Modifications to policies like The Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Region, The ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris, and the EU Single Use Plastics Directive could be made to center the policy’s focus around mandatory and accurate recording and reporting from large industries and manufacturers to monitor and mitigate their plastic pollution.
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