Ocean plastic is a ‘planetary crisis’, according to UN Oceans Chief, Lisa Svensson. Yet its global production continues to rise. A 2016 report by the World Economic Forum predicted that, without improvements in how plastic waste is managed, by 2025 there could be one tonne of plastic in the ocean for every three tonnes of fish.

The main problem is that plastics are designed to last. Larger items do disappear over time, but largely because they are broken into smaller and smaller fragments – eventually becoming microplastics less than 5mm in size. Estimates suggest there could be over 250,000 tonnes of microplastics floating around in the ocean – in addition to those that have sunk to the seabed, washed up on beaches or accumulated inside marine organisms (IUCN, 2017).

Many marine species can become entangled in plastic debris or mistake it for food. Plastics also attract toxins and bind to other pollutants in the water, which can accumulate in increasing concentrations higher up the food chain.

Your donation will help spread the message about the problem of marine plastics, provide resources to get involved and reduce its presence in the ocean. A Rocha is:

•  Developing a global citizen science project focused on ‘nurdles’ – small plastic pellets used for industrial plastic production often found washed up on beaches;

• Publishing articles and making presentations that explore the theological implications of marine plastics;

•  Developing materials, including the Microplastics Toolbox, that highlight the lifestyle changes needed to reduce single-use plastic and which can be incorporated into our global environmental education programmes;

• Bringing the issue of marine plastics to the attention of policy and decision makers; and

•  Working with A Rocha organizations around the world to develop clean-up projects in key habitats such as beaches and mangroves.

But we need your help. Thank you!