Facts about the great pacific garbage patch?

An estimated 100,000 turtles and other animals die each year, and more than one million seabirds.

Plastic bottles and bags dumped from ships and from storm water drains and rivers float in the oceans and the wind and currents bring them all to this great revolving Pacific Gyre. Plastic ropes and discarded fishing nets are part of it too. Scientists estimate that there is around three million tons of plastic debris there.

The sun and the oceans have broken the plastic down. As the plastic degrades it releases many toxins which get into the food chain. It also breaks up into tiny pieces which are attractive to sea birds and marine creatures. This plastic junk builds up in their stomachs till they die. Some of the particles are microscopic and filter feeders like whales are swallowing them.

"Ghost fishing" from thrown away nets are still trapping fish and marine animals. Studies have found that even barnacles are eating tiny shreds of plastic.