International Journal of Marine Science, 2025, Vol.15, No.5, 245-254 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ijms 252 ships or fences at the mouth of rivers. There have been projects that have installed floating gates in some rivers in Southeast Asia to import river surface garbage into the collection cabin to prevent them from entering the sea (Wu et al., 2023). Meanwhile, small unmanned ships or robots are also used to fish for floating garbage in ports and nearshore waters. These robots are equipped with cameras and robotic arms, which can independently cruise and trap water surface garbage, and are highly flexible. 8 Public Participation and Educational Propaganda 8.1 The role of communities and NGOs in reducing plastic pollution In addition to the government and scientific research community, community organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also play an indispensable role in the prevention and control of plastic pollution. Community-level actions are often intuitive and productive, with many coastal communities around the world conducting regular beach cleaning activities, with local residents, volunteers and environmental groups participating in cleaning up plastic waste from the beach. This not only directly reduces the plastic stock in the environment, but also enhances the public's awareness of environmental protection. Studies have shown that areas with continuous beach cleaning traditions have significantly lower plastic waste on the shore than unmanaged areas. NGOs often act as advocates and coordinators. For example, environmental organizations such as "Marine Guardian" have attracted the attention of the public and decision-makers to the microplastics issue through investigation reports and publicity, and promoted the introduction of relevant policies. In developing countries, some environmental organizations help communities establish simple recycling systems and train local personnel to process waste plastics into crafts or building materials, not only beautify the environment but also generate income. 8.2 Changes in consumer behavior and sustainable consumption patterns The root cause of microplastic pollution lies in the way humans consume and dispose of plastic products. Therefore, guiding consumer behavior changes and building sustainable consumption models are regarded as one of the fundamental solutions. First, reducing unnecessary plastic consumption is the best contribution of every consumer. For example, bringing your own shopping bags instead of disposable plastic bags, carrying a water cup instead of bottled water, refusing to use plastic straws and tableware, etc. Secondly, choosing environmentally friendly packaging and biodegradable products is also a reflection of consumers' responsibility. Third, cultivate the habit of garbage sorting and correct disposal. Consumers classify waste plastics into recyclable barrels, which can improve recycling efficiency and prevent plastic from entering the environment. In terms of education, environmental education should be strengthened, and the awareness of plastic reduction should be cultivated from children, and the truth about plastic pollution should be spread through the media and the green lifestyle should be promoted, so that the public can deeply understand that "everyone is a part of environmental protection." 8.3 The impact assessment of the “Plastic Free July” global campaign "Plastic-free July" is a global charity event that originated in Australia, calling on people to avoid the use of disposable plastic products every July. Since its establishment in 2011, the number of participants in the "Plastic-free July" campaign has increased year by year, and has become an important platform for promoting public plastic reduction actions. According to statistics in 2022, about 140 million people from more than 190 countries participated in this activity that year. An independent study evaluated the actual plastic reduction effect of "No plastic July". The results show that households who have been participating in the exercise for a long time have reduced their plastic waste output by about 28% on average, and the cumulative reduction of plastic waste worldwide during the event is equivalent to 900 million kilograms. More importantly, many participants continued to maintain good habits after July, achieving a long-term shift in behavior. Acknowledgments The successful completion of this study cannot be separated from the support of the team and the suggestions for the revision of peer review. We would like to express my sincere thanks.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==