Plastic floating in the oceans is called marine plastic. It makes up 80 percent of marine debris. Ocean currents pull marine plastic into large patches.
There are now five major marine debris patches in the world’s oceans. The largest is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It captures and holds 1.8 trillion pieces of marine plastic floating between California and Hawaii.
Marine plastic is harming at least 1,400 marine species, including fish, sea animals, and seabirds. For example, sea turtles mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish and eat them. The plastic fills their stomachs and kills many. It is urgent for us to protect these marine species from plastic pollution.
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