The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
NOAA’s map shows the global reach of ocean plastic pollution
The United Nations 2016 Report: “Plastic litter and micro-plastics are ubiquitous in the ocean”
Water and wind currents cause marine debris to accumulate
Plastics converges in expansive areas called Gyres or Garbage Patches; the largest one is between Hawaii and California
The size of the Pacific Gyres wreaks havoc on marine life, tourism, and shipping
The largest Pacific Gyre has been estimated to be the size of Texas
Plastics Mistaken for Food
Dead baby albatrosses reveal what happens when plastics are mistaken for food
Leads to Starvation
Animals’ stomachs fill with plastic debris, leaving little to no room for real food, so the animals slowly die from malnutrition
Like a Canary in a Coal Mine
These albatrosses are early warning signals of the threats posed by ocean plastic pollution
Plastic Pollution Ruins Our Beautiful Beaches
Plastic is damaging our beaches both environmentally and aesthetically
Plastic Ruins Family Time at the Beach
Plastics create safety hazards for our children and grandchildren playing in the sand
Increasing Amounts of Debris Make Beach Cleanup More Difficult
Beach lovers and cleanup volunteer crews can’t keep up with the volumes of plastic washing up onshore
Interrupting the Food Chain
Fish mistake microplastics for their usual diet and ingest them into their digestive tract
Fish Health Harmed
Plastics leech harmful chemicals and prevent these fish from maintaining their normal metabolic functions
Biomagnification Threat to Humans
Larger fish eat smaller fish with ingested plastic, and thereby have microplastics enter their bodies; up and up the food chain, until seafood containing unknown levels of microplastics reaches human dinner tables and is consumed
Plastic Damages Marine Industries
Marine debris creates financial losses for our fishing, tourism, and shipping industries
Damages to Shipping Industry
Concentrations of marine debris wreak havoc on ships and require long detours to avoid debris collision
Damages to Fishing Industry
Fishing ships harvest less fish at higher cost where debris is concentrated
Ocean plastics are on the surface and below the surface
Turtles also mistake plastics for food and suffer the consequences
Ocean plastics also ensnare thousands of ocean mammals
Seals are innocent victims of plastics hindering movement and nutrition, leading to reduced longevity and even death
NOAA’s list of endangered whales cites ocean debris as a key threat
Once entangled, whales struggle to surface for air
