Recently, Associate Researcher Huang Wei has made a series of research progress on the distribution of micro-plastics and the eco-toxicological effects of micro-plastics on important marine economic species. Related results have been published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, Environmental Pollution, and Science of the Total Environment and other mainstream publications in the field of marine ecological environment at home and abroad.

Marine microplastic pollution has become an environmental issue of global concern. It is estimated that there are currently at least 5.25 trillion plastic fragments floating on the surface of the ocean, with a total weight of 270,000 tons. The plastic in the ocean forms fragments of different sizes and shapes through photo-degradation, mechanical crushing or biological action. Ingestion can induce marine organisms to produce adverse effects such as oxidative stress, immune toxicity, neurotoxicity, embryo toxicity and reproductive abnormalities.

SIO has started research in marine micro-plastics in 2016, and established marine micro-plastics analysis and testing laboratories earlier in domestic research institutions. In recent years, it has successively carried out research on the distribution characteristics of micro-plastics in typical bays such as the Yangtze River Estuary, Hangzhou Bay, Xiangshan Bay, and Sanmen Bay and the Indian Ocean and polar regions. In 2019, the Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics of the Ministry of Natural Resources cooperated with scientists from Myanmar and Sri Lanka to carry out the survey of micro-plastics in the Bay of Bengal, the exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka, and the exclusive economic zone of Myanmar; jointly held "International Symposium on Monitoring and Management of Marine Micro-plastics in the Asia Pacific Region" with Zhejiang University, which further expanded the scope of international cooperation in the field of marine micro-plastics.

At present, the series of published research results provide scientific and technical reserves for marine ecosystem damage assessment and micro-plastics prevention and control, and can provide reference for decision-making in for the comprehensive protection and utilization of coastal zone and sea island under the overall planning of land and sea in the aspects of industrial layout, ecological restoration and management measures, marine ecosystem management.