Do you know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?! #HappyEarthDay

The GPGP is the most well known garbage patch located between Hawaii and California. Garbage patches are areas of marine debris formed by rotating ocean currents called “gyres.” They are made up of large plastics and microplastics that are smaller than a pencil eraser!

What is the impact of these garbage patches?

Marine life can be harmed by ingesting the debris and or potentially killed by certain types of debris like six-pack rings! Invasive species can also be transported by this debris and outcompete or overcrowd native species and disrupt the ecosystem!

Why can’t these plastics just be scooped up? It’s NOT that simple! These garbage patches are constantly moving with ocean currents and they can be massive. Marine life would also be disturbed and possibly harmed!

So what can we do? PREVENTION! Reuse Reduce Recycle! Avoid using single use plastics! Join a shoreline cleanup! Read this thread and educate yourself on this important issue!

Let’s take care of our one and only !!! Additional resources: https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html 
& https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/noaa-interactive-25/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-ocean-today/