SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel SPECIAL PUBLICATION | Page 3

Many studies on marine debris have
shown that plastics consistently make
up 60 to 80% of all marine debris from
surface waters to deep-sea sediments3.

Plastics
• Do not biodegrade. Rather, under the influence of solar UV radiations, wind, currents and other natural factors, they are
shown to fragment into small particles,
termed microplastics;
• Can be ingested by birds, turtles and
other animals, as well as by pelagic
fish and other marine organisms;
• Travel huge distances from their source, resulting in habitat degradation in
areas as remote as the Arctic;
• Can become the site of new floating habitats, whereby invasive species and

chemical contaminants can be transported over long distances;
• Contain toxic substances that leach in
to the water when they degrade;
• Accumulate persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The hydrophobicity of
POPs (their “water-fearing” qualities)
means they will gravitate towards microplastics (as well as the fat tissue of
animals);
• Absorb mercury in its organic form
(methylmercury) from surrounding
seawater.

3

Derraik, J.G.B.(2002) The pollution of the marine environment by
plastic debris: a review, Marine Pollution Bulletin No. 44, pp. 842-852

Global Marine & Polar Programme IUCN
(International Union for Conservation of Nature)

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CH-1196 Gland,
Switzerland

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