Eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year, including the Mediterranean Sea. They break down into tiny bits called microplastics, small enough to enter our food chain, along with other types of microplastics like those that are released when we wash our clothes. The Mediterranean is one of the most polluted seas by microplastic. Plastic contaminates the soil, rivers and oceans. It even enters our food chain. Every year, people and animals are ingesting more plastic from food and drinking water (more information here)

Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear, known as ghost gear, is the most deadly form of marine plastic debris in our ocean. This type of waste can scour the ocean bottom, trap and drown marine wildlife and endanger navigation and fisher economies. Globally, 45% of marine mammals, 21 % of seabirds and all sea turtles species have been impacted by marine debris, including ghost gear.

Many of us are doing our bit to reduce plastics pollution, but it’s time that governments and businesses took their full responsibility too. Join our fight. Call on our governments to introduce a global legally binding agreement to stop plastics polluting our oceans!