Texas tourism and fishing industries are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to act against nurdle pollution, warning that unchecked plastic discharge could threaten marine ecosystems and the state’s $31 billion outdoor recreation economy.
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Environmental advocates in Texas have consistently raised concerns about small plastic pellets known as nurdles. The tourism and fishing sectors in the state are now aligning their efforts, urging Gov. Greg Abbott to take action against the increasing plastic pollution along the Gulf Coast.
Last month, almost twelve organizations, such as the Galveston Bay Foundation, Moody Gardens, and the Texas Oyster Mariculture Association, reached out to Abbott in a letter, encouraging him to instruct the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to limit nurdle discharge during its current revision of the state’s Surface Water Quality Standards.
“The economic consequences are dire,” the letter cautioned. The outdoor recreation sector in Texas is a significant contributor, providing close to 300,000 jobs, generating $14 billion in salaries, and adding $31 billion to the state's economy. Texas beaches are overwhelmed with a staggering amount of plastic waste, far exceeding that of other Gulf Coast beaches. This concerning difference could discourage visitors and negatively impact local businesses.
The Galveston City Council backed the letter, having adopted a resolution the previous month that called for similar measures.
Nurdles, those tiny, lentil-sized plastic pellets, serve as the foundational material for most plastic products. Derived from fossil fuels, these materials are sent to facilities where they are shaped into various products, including packaging and automotive components. However, conservationists report that thousands make their way into Texas waterways during the manufacturing, transport, and loading processes.
“Facilities release nurdles through wastewater and during the transportation process via truck and rail,” stated Joanie Steinhaus, ocean program director for the Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN). “They make their way into the bay, flow into the Gulf, and the tides return them to our shores.”
According to Steinhaus, Texas hosts 36 preproduction plastics facilities, three of which are located on Galveston Bay. Since 2020, her organization and partners have conducted over 2,700 surveys through Texas A&M–Corpus Christi’s Harte Research Institute, gathering more than 16,000 pellets along the coast.
A recent study by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute has found nurdles reaching as far as Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The pellets are not just an eyesore on beaches; they also pose a significant threat to wildlife. “Fish, turtles, and birds frequently consume these plastics, resulting in intestinal blockages, starvation, and exposure to harmful pollutants,” the letter indicated. “The presence of microplastics in fish poses a risk to growth and reproductive capabilities, endangering both commercial and recreational fishing industries.”
The letter highlighted concerns about human health, noting the potential risk of toxic chemicals transferred through seafood consumption. This factor could negatively impact demand for fish and shrimp sourced from Texas.
The updated water quality standards from TCEQ are anticipated to be released next year. On Friday morning, TIRN and its partner organizations, such as Environment Texas and the Sierra Club, will come together for a cleanup event in Galveston, gathering at Murdoch’s, near Pleasure Pier.
Previous efforts to control the release of nurdles have not succeeded. “They are regarded as inactive, yet we understand their detrimental effects on both wildlife and humans,” Steinhaus stated. “Currently, there are no federal rules governing the release of nurdles.”
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