How plastic affects the seas and the oceans

The most visible impacts of plastic affecting the marine life is ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of a huge number of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fishes and turtles, mistake plastic waste for prey, and most die of starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic debris.Globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic pollution. This includes whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions.Plastic waste kills up to a million seabirds a year. As with sea turtles, when seabirds ingest plastic, it takes up room in their stomachs, sometimes causing starvation. At least 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year, and make up 80% of all marine debris from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. As of 2019, 368 million tonnes of plastic is produced each year; 51% in Asia. 4 of the largest producers of plastic waste are: 1.China

2.Indonesia

3.Philippines

4 Vietnam

As much as 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic waste was generated in India in 2018-19, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. This is roughly translated to 9,200 tonnes a day.

Here are some ways to ways to reduce plastic waste:

Avoid single-use plastics such as drinking straws.

If you go shopping, remember to take a cloth bag.

Recycle chewing gum... it's also make of plastic.

Buy more bulk food and fewer packaged products.

Replace plastic Tupperware for glass or steel containers.