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Capturing Plastic: An Underwater Photographer’s Quest to Expose Great Lakes Pollution

An underwater photographer documents the hidden epidemic of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, shedding light on threats to ecosystems and communities.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

An underwater photographer documents the hidden epidemic of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, shedding light on threats to ecosystems and communities.

The vast and pristine waters of the Great Lakes have long represented the promise of clean drinking water, abundant wildlife, and stunning natural beauty. But beneath the surface, a growing tide of plastic pollution threatens this invaluable freshwater ecosystem. Through the lens of an underwater photographer, this article dives deep into the overlooked crisis of plastic in the Great Lakes, charting the sources, consequences, and possible solutions shaping the fate of one of the world’s most critical water resources.

The Lure and Legacy of the Great Lakes

Spanning over 94,000 square miles, the Great Lakes comprise the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by surface area. These interconnected water bodies – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario – supply drinking water for over 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada. They anchor local economies, support bountiful fisheries, and offer a playground for photographers and adventurers alike.

Freshwater resource: The Great Lakes contain about 21% of the world’s surface fresh water.
Biodiversity hotspot: Home to over 3,500 species of plants and animals.
Economic engine: More than $5 trillion in GDP is generated by industries tied to the lakes.

Meet the Photographer: Chris Roxburgh’s Unique Perspective

Chris Roxburgh is a renowned underwater photographer and author based in Michigan, celebrated for his evocative images of Great Lakes shipwrecks and aquatic life. Yet, as his work grew, he couldn’t ignore what else his camera kept capturing: plastic debris tangled among ancient timbers, plastic bags wafting like jellyfish, and bottles wedged between rocks. Roxburgh’s images began to tell a new story, not just of history and beauty, but of an emerging environmental battle.

Artistic acclaim: Roxburgh’s photographs appear in major museums, manifesting both beauty and urgency.
Environmental advocacy: He uses photography to raise awareness about plastic pollution’s silent invasion into the lakes.
Community engagement: His public talks and media appearances spotlight the epidemic of single-use plastic.

Unveiling Trouble: Plastic Pollution Beneath the Surface

While popular images of oceanic plastic gyres make headlines, the spread of plastic pollution into the Great Lakes is often overlooked. According to the Rochester Institute of Technology, an estimated 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes each year. Once in the water, these plastics degrade into microplastics – fragments smaller than 5mm – that permeate every level of the ecosystem.

Microplastics have been found in over 90% of sampled Great Lakes water bodies.
Researchers observe plastics accumulating not only at the surface but throughout the water column and on the lakebed.
Blown by winds and carried by currents, plastics can spread rapidly within and between all five lakes.

The Underwater Evidence

Through his dives, Roxburgh documents evidence that is at once beautiful and tragic:

Discarded bottles encrusted with algae rest beside historic shipwrecks.
Plastic bags mimic aquatic life, confounding both fish and camera lenses.
Fishermen’s lures, foamed food containers, and the remains of single-use packaging litter once-pristine habitats.

His work shows that plastic pollution is not an abstract concept – it is a clear, immediate, and escalating problem.

How is Plastic Getting Into the Great Lakes?

Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes is not just a matter of careless boaters or industrial spills. Most of it arrives by land, through everyday human activities and inadequate waste management.

Stormwater runoff: Rain and snowmelt wash plastic litter from streets and landfills into storm drains that empty into rivers and lakes.
Sewage and wastewater: Microplastics from personal care products and synthetic clothing can pass through wastewater treatment and enter waterways.
Improper disposal: Littering, illegal dumping, and overflowing trash cans feed a never-ending supply of plastic waste.
Agricultural runoff: Plastics used in fertilizers and mulch find their way into ditches and streams flowing to the lakes.

Once in the lakes, plastics break down, but never disappear. Sunlight, waves, and abrasion create ever-smaller particles, making cleanup almost impossible.

The Threat to Wildlife and Ecosystems

Plastic pollution’s impact on wildlife is devastating:

Many fish, birds, and invertebrates mistake plastics for food, leading to blockages, malnutrition, and death.
Microplastics accumulate toxic chemicals that can then be absorbed by animals, building up in the food web.
Research shows fathead minnows exposed to microplastics from Lake Ontario developed up to six times more deformities and malformations than those not exposed.
Turtles, gulls, and other animals suffer entanglement and injury from discarded bags, nets, and balloons.

Because the Great Lakes ecosystem is so tightly interconnected, impacts on one species ripple through the entire food chain, from zooplankton to top predators like salmon and eagles.

Human Health at Risk

The threat does not stop at wildlife. Microplastics have already been detected in:

Drinking water: Trace microplastics are found in over 80% of municipal tap water samples globally, with Great Lakes cities among those tested.
Fish and seafood: Many edible fish species now contain measurable concentrations of plastics.
Table salt and beer: Processed foods and drinks made with local water may also contain microplastics.

The full health consequences for humans remain uncertain. However, early studies raise concerns about chemicals leached or carried by plastics acting as endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or contributing to other chronic health conditions.

Tale of Two Lenses: Environmental Beauty vs. Environmental Crisis

Roxburgh’s photography presents a striking paradox. In one frame, a centuries-old shipwreck is teeming with life; in another, the same scene is marred by a tangle of plastic mesh or a drift of polystyrene cups. These juxtapositions force viewers to confront how quickly human waste can erode natural heritage.

Educational displays: Museums and aquariums now use such images to educate the public and spark behavioral change.
Media features: Photo essays circulate through news outlets and environmental organizations, raising the visibility of the problem and the urgency of action.

The Bigger Picture: Connecting Local and Global Plastic Crises

Plastic pollution knows no boundaries. What is discarded on a Lake Michigan beach can eventually travel to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River. Wind and currents ensure that plastics in the lakes become part of a much larger, global problem.

The U.S. remains one of the largest producers of plastic waste, much of it single-use.
Local plastic pollution directly contributes to the growing burden of marine debris worldwide.
New research reveals the interconnectedness of the world’s freshwater systems and marine ecosystems.

Civic Action and Community Solutions

Despite the scale of the plastic crisis, a range of community-driven solutions and policies are taking root across the Great Lakes region:

Plastic bag bans and local regulations: Some municipalities have enacted bans or fees on single-use plastics to curb pollution at the source.
Restoration campaigns: Nonprofit partnerships organize shoreline and waterway cleanups, removing tons of plastic from beaches and wetlands every year.
Innovative research: University and nonprofit researchers chart the flow of microplastics, test cleanup technologies, and study health impacts.
Educational programs: Aquariums, like Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, run public engagement campaigns to reduce individual plastic use and promote sustainable choices.

Role of Underwater Photography in Advocacy

Visual storytelling: Underwater photographs have a unique ability to bridge the gap between scientific data and public perception.
Citizen science: Divers and photographers are increasingly collaborating with researchers to document and report plastic finds.
Inspiring change: Striking images help individuals reconsider daily plastic use and support policies for a cleaner watershed.

What Individuals Can Do

Tackling plastic pollution requires both systemic change and individual effort. Here are practical steps you can take:

Reduce reliance on single-use plastics: Opt for reusable bags, bottles, and containers.
Support cleanups: Volunteer for local shoreline or underwater cleanups.
Properly dispose of all waste: Ensure plastics are placed in recycling bins if accepted by your local system.
Advocate: Call for local policies that reduce plastic waste, such as bag bans or improved recycling programs.
Educate and inspire: Share images and stories, as Chris Roxburgh does, to keep the issue visible and actionable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How much plastic pollution is entering the Great Lakes each year?

A: Current estimates suggest approximately 22 million pounds of plastic enter the Great Lakes annually, much of it from urban waste and stormwater runoff.

Q: What are microplastics and why are they a problem?

A: Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5mm in diameter. They persist in the environment, absorb toxins, and can enter the food web, affecting both wildlife and human health.

Q: How does underwater photography help address the plastic crisis?

A: Underwater images provide powerful, visceral evidence of pollution’s reach, making the invisible visible and motivating community action and policy changes.

Q: Can recycled plastic help reduce the problem?

A: While recycling is important, less than 10% of plastics are effectively recycled. Reducing consumption and improving waste management are essential for lasting change.

Q: What lasting impact can individual actions have?

A: Small steps – like refusing single-use plastics, joining cleanups, or educating others – collectively create momentum towards healthier lakes and a more sustainable future.

A Call to Action – Through the Lens of Change

The story of plastic in the Great Lakes is still being written – in scientific studies, in environmental policy, and frame by frame through the work of underwater photographers. Each image is a call to better stewardship, to face the hidden burdens our lifestyles place on these freshwater giants, and to rally communities toward solutions. As Roxburgh’s work makes clear, the lakes’ fate may well depend on how clearly – and how urgently – we see our reflection staring back from beneath the surface.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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