The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering: we buy or use disposable plastic items (food wrappings, plastic bags, bottles, etc.) and do not dispose of them properly, which causes them to end up in the waterways and eventually in the ocean. Since plastic is affordable, readily available and durable material, it can be found everywhere. Connected to that is the fact that the world’s population is growing and the issue of urbanisation is getting bigger. The more people in the world, the greater the demand for cheap materials and the more plastic we use in abundance. Another factor are the shipping and fishing industries, which are also responsible for contributing towards plastic waste and pollution, particularly in our oceans. Plastic is often washed to shores from ships and nets used for fishing, which are mostly made from plastic. Not only does this plastic pollute the water, but marine animals can become trapped in nets and/or swallow the toxic particles.
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