The sheer volume of plastic waste in the world's seas and oceans is a hot potato globally.<br />However, South Korea is looking to do its part,... with the government laying out comprehensive measures to HALVE the amount of waste plastic in South Korean waters by 2030.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />Plastic is estimated to account for 80 percent of global marine litter.<br />In waters off South Korea,... there's estimated to be nearly 120-thousand tons of plastic,... half of it discarded fishing gear and buoys.<br />As well as harming sea-life and contaminating the water,... fine plastic only 1 to 5 micrometers in size is a potential risk factor for human beings.<br />The toxins contained in such mircoplastic are known to be detrimental to human health and may even cause cancer or infertility.<br /><br />"Fine plastic has been found inside marine life and products caught in South Korean waters, while a large amount of plastic was recently found inside a dead turtle. The public is worried."<br /><br />To tackle the issue,... the South Korean government is aiming to reduce marine plastic in South Korean waters by 30 and 50 percent by 2022 and 2030, respectively.<br />Starting in 2021,... the government will initiate a deposit system for fishing gear and buoys,... and set up collection zones at major ports.<br />It also plans to substitute Styrofoam buoys with eco-friendly materials while making efforts to make sure river waste doesn't flow into the sea.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
