Threats to marine biodiversity - plastic pollution

At least 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. Millions of marine animals ingest and get entangled in plastic debris every year, causing death or serious injuries. 

In the oceans, plastic waste is broken down into smaller particles. These particles, known as microplastics, are everywhere - they have been found in fish, shrimp, and mussels consumed by humans; they exist in the municipal drinking water systems; and they are even drifting through the air we breathe. 

The only way to stop this is to prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans - by improved waste management systems, and reduction in manufacturing of plastics.