SOS! Save our seas

As research reveals 88 per cent of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste, Debbi Marco finds out how we can all do our bit to help this World Ocean Day

- Debbi Marco

The statistics around ocean pollution are nothing short of horrifying. Research has shown 88 per cent of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste, and on UK beaches there are 5,000 pieces of plastic and 150 plastic bottles for each mile.

More than a million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year. This level of pollution is affecting the food chain, with one in three fish caught for human consumption containing plastic. In fact, nearly 90 per cent of marine species are now contaminated with plastic.

"Plastic has a direct impact on marine biology, says Sophie Benbow, director of the Marine programme at charity Fauna and Flora (fauna-flora.org). "We even see marine species using plastic as habitats octopus making homes from plastic bottles."

Much of the plastic polluting our oceans comes from microplastics that are so small they cannot be seen. But Sophie warns that while the waste going into our oceans may be out of sight, it shouldn't be out of mind.