Oceanplastickillsmillionsofmarineanimalseachyear.Nearly700specieshavebeenaffectedbyit.Thisincludesendangered species.

Somearestrangledbyfishingnetsorsix‑packrings.Seaturtlesgulpdownplasticbags.Theythinktheplasticisajellyfish.Seabirdshavediedwithstomachsfullofplastic.Microplastic, ortinyplasticpieces,arealsoathreatto animals.

Seabirdsscoopupfloatingplasticpellets.Thepelletslooklikefisheggs.Parentbirdsspituptheplasticastheyfeedtheiryoung.Butplasticdoesnotprovideenergyornutrients.Itkillsthe animals.

Incrabs,microplasticsremaininthegutmuchlongerthanfooddoes.Thecrabseat.Buttheydon’tgetenoughnutritionto survive.

Tokeepplasticoutofourocean,weneedtoknowhowit’sgettingthere.Weproducealotofplastic.Butwedon’thaveagoodplanfordealingwithplastic garbage.

ResourceeconomistTedSieglersaystheplasticproblemcanbesolved.“Thisisn’taproblemwherewedon’tknowwhatthesolutionis,”he says.

Sieglerhastwomainsuggestions.First,designnewplasticsandnewplasticproductsthatarebiodegradableor recyclable.

Second,buildbetterwasteremovalsystems.Havecompaniespayapennyoneverypoundofplastictheymanufacture.Usethatmoneytobuildbettergarbage systems.