About The Marine Conservation Society
BY 2050, PLASTIC COULD OUTWEIGH FISH IN OUR OCEANS
The Marine Conservation Society is a leading UK environmental charity dedicated to
protecting our ocean - defending crucial habitats, regenerating vital ecosystems and
inspiring volunteers. The organisation unites communities, governments, and industry to champion science-based solutions for cleaner, healthier seas to tackle the climate and nature emergency.
For many marine species, plastic isn’t just pollution - it’s a serious threat to life. Sea turtles, seabirds and fish commonly ingest plastic thinking it is food. Once swallowed, it can obstruct their digestive systems, leaving them unable to eat and ultimately leading to starvation. Larger items, such as ropes and discarded fishing gear, can entangle animals, causing injury, exhaustion and, in many cases, death.
Unlike natural materials, plastic doesn’t biodegrade - it simply breaks into even smaller
pieces that persist indefinitely in the environment. These tiny particles, known as
microplastics, represent an often invisible but widespread threat to the entire marine
ecosystem. Microplastics now contaminate every corner of the ocean and are quickly
making their way into the food chain, carrying harmful chemicals that can put marine life at risk.
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More Facts About Ocean Plastic Pollution:
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8 Million Tons Annually: Around 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year - that’s roughly a full garbage truck every minute.
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More Plastic Than Fish: By 2050, plastic could outweigh fish in our oceans if current trends continue.
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Plastic Is Persistent: Most plastics take 500–1,000 years to degrade, breaking down into harmful microplastics.
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Plastic Dominates Marine Debris: 90% of ocean waste is plastic-based.
Plastic Outnumbers Fish: In some regions, plastic outnumbers fish 6 to 1.
Cutting down on single-use plastics, reusing, recycling and disposing of litter correctly, are simple steps that add up to real change when adopted widely.
You can help support this vital cause by purchasing our Gaia Oyster Necklace. The necklace supports our shared mission to protect the oceans - a cause close to all our hearts. We have joined Work for Good and will donate 50% of profits to the Marine Conservation Society.
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