Every year a staggering eight million metric tons of plastic waste make their way into our oceans, posing a significant environmental challenge. This flood of plastic wreaks havoc on marine life, with millions of creatures such as turtles, birds, fish and marine mammals suffering the consequences. To put it into perspective, over a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals perish annually due to plastic pollution.

But the impact doesn't stop there. Plastic pollution also takes a toll on our economy, costing billions of dollars each year. This includes losses in tourism because dirty beaches drive away visitors and hits to the fishing industry due to reduced stocks and contaminated catches.

Moreover, the effects of plastic waste are felt throughout marine ecosystems. Critical habitats like coral reefs struggle to thrive when tangled in plastic debris, while mangrove forests and seagrass beds essential breeding grounds for many marine species are under threat.

It is not just the ocean's problem, coastal communities bear the brunt too. Cleaning up beaches is costly, and removing all the plastic is a tough task. Given plastic's long-lasting presence in the environment, concerted efforts are needed to prevent its entry into the ocean and protect marine life and coastal communities from its harmful effects.