Join Us

Marine Litter Pollution

Its effects go beyond affecting marine life

Marine litter has manifested itself as a problem for both health and the economy.

Every day, considerable resources are allocated, reaching millions of dollars, for the cleaning of our beaches, either by the action of the sea or the recklessness of humans. A challenge that requires our urgent attention.

What you should know about marine litter

Marine litter consists of items produced by humans that have been discarded, deposited, or abandoned in marine and/or coastal environments, including materials that have been transported to the sea through various means such as rivers, runoff, sewage, or wind.

Its origin can be very varied: terrestrial, produced on land and transported to the oceans, such as waste from tourists and other residues that arrive through pipes; or of marine origin, directly discharged into the marine environment from fishing or recreational vessels, or even waste from oil platforms.

Each year, about 10 million tons of waste reach our beaches, mainly packaging such as beverage bottles and single-use bags. This seriously affects biodiversity, populations, and ecosystems.

More than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die each year from ingestion or entanglement. Marine litter not only affects ecosystems and biodiversity, but also poses an impact on human health due to the toxic substances released by the waste or the problems derived from its accumulation in the food chain, in which humans are at the top.

As evidence of this problem, different human tissues have already been contaminated by microplastics: the heart, placenta, and muscles are just an example of the health problem that is to come if we do nothing to stop it.

It is estimated that 80% of marine pollution originates on land, and 20% comes from direct discharges into the sea.

Where do they come from?

Beach tourism 19.8%
Fishing 18%
Other activities on land 13.3%
Wastewater 12.2%
Navigation 9.5%
Commerce and hospitality 9.3%
Aquaculture 6.9%
Construction and demolition 4.7%
Other 6.3%

MITECO marine litter monitoring report 2022

How can you reduce the impact?

  • Plastic containers

    Avoid buying over-packaged products and opt for the use of glass lunch boxes or reusable containers. On many occasions, single-use plastic containers end up on the beaches.

  • Plastic bottles

    Change the plastic bottle for a metal canteen. Not only will you keep the water fresh, but you will generate less waste.

  • Aluminum foil

    Use reusable cloth packaging. You will avoid generating aluminum debris that can be left abandoned on the beaches.

  • Cotton swabs

    Remember that the toilet is not a trash can.

  • Wipes

    Wipes generate large economic waste due to blockages in cities and pollute the marine environment. Deposit them in the bins, not in the toilet.

  • Medications

    Many medications generate inevitable waste. Find the SIGRE point of your nearest pharmacy for a good waste management.

  • Soaps and detergents

    Make sure you use liquid detergents for the washing machine, as solids accumulate forming detergent stones that can end up in the sand.

  • Cigarette butts

    Cigarette butts are a danger to the environment. Its toxic components pollute the water and the soil. Each cigarette butt can contaminate between 40 and 1000 liters of water. Save them and do not abandon them on the beach.

  • Balloons

    When we lose balloons inflated with helium, they do not reach space, they end up bursting and the plastic remains fall mostly in the seas and oceans. These balloons are a serious threat to marine fauna.

  • Debris

    When doing a renovation at home, remember to hire a company that manages the removal of debris produced in the work so that they do not end up abandoned in the natural environment.

  • Descargar el decálogo de buenas prácticas

Some interesting facts

  • Microplastics

    The plastics that reach the natural environment end up degrading into tiny pieces: microplastics. These can be ingested by marine species that we feed on, which directly affects our health.

  • Hooks and fishing lines

    In the past, fishing lines were made of cotton, a less polluting material than the current polyester. Many of them are lost and end up harming the fauna and transforming into microplastics.

  • Sigre Point

    They are points of deposition of boxes, containers and expired medications, as well as those medicines that are no longer needed. They are found in pharmacies that collect them and take care of their recycling.

  • Oils

    The oils that we throw down the sink end up reaching the sea, polluting the waters and sickening the species. When cooking, save it and deposit it in the corresponding container.

  • Mermaid tears or pellets

    They are the raw material of plastic, small transparent balls between 1 and 5 mm. Sometimes they do not complete their production cycle and end up in the ocean and on the beaches, polluting and being able to be ingested by the fauna.

What do we do at the Oceanogràfic Foundation?

We carry out environmental awareness actions on beaches aimed at the whole society, such as school groups, companies and other entities.

During the cleanings we collect, identify and count the waste, many of which are included in this decalogue.

No matter how many cleanings we do, we will never match the rate at which waste is produced. These actions are an awareness tool in order to open the eyes of society, but they are not the solution to the problem.

For this reason, the Foundation has been developing research and awareness actions focused on marine litter pollution and its impact on biodiversity for years.

Limpieza de playa junto a escolares

The Foundation has been participating since 2018 in these three lines of work in coordination with the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge:

  • Marine litter on beaches

  • Citizen science

  • Marine litter in biota (in collaboration with the Universitat de València)

How can you be part of the change?

  • Transform your daily consumption habits to make a difference. Focus on responsible consumption and reduction at source.

  • Remember: the best plastic is the one that is not consumed.

  • Prevention is the key to finding the best solution. Make change an integral part of your lifestyle.

  • Join our community committed to the preservation of the marine environment. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news, sustainable tips and updates on our projects.

    • Error: Contact form not found.