1. Land-based sources…
such as agricultural run-off, discharge of nutrients and pesticides and untreated sewage including plastics, account for approximately 80% of marine pollution, globally.
2. The United Nations Environment Programme…
estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.
3. Over 220 million tons of plastic are produced each year.
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4. Micro-Plastics
Once discarded, plastics are weathered and eroded into very small fragments known as micro-plastics. These together with plastic pellets are already found in most beaches around the world.
5. Plastic debris…
cause the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals.
6. Gyres of Plastic waste
Plastic materials and other litter can become concentrated in certain areas called gyres as a result of marine pollution gathered by oceanic currents. There are now 5 gyres in our ocean.
7. The North Pacific Gyre…
known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, occupies a relatively stationary area that is twice the size of Texas. Waste material from across the North Pacific Ocean, including coastal waters off North America and Japan, are drawn together.
The Blueprint for ocean and coastal sustainability includes proposals to green the nutrient economy and reduce ocean hypoxia.
The information above is provided by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) in partner with Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Find out more at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/focus-areas/rio-20-ocean/blueprint-for-the-future-we-want/marine-pollution/facts-and-figures-on-marine-pollution/
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*photo cred: https://humanimpactsblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/saving-the-planet-one-plastic-bag-at-a-time/jl-turtle-eating-plastic-bag-copyright-troy-mayne/