On June 8, which is World Oceans Day, it was noted that nearly 200 million tourists in the Mediterranean region have caused a 40 percent increase in marine trash, 95 percent of which is plastic, and much of it comes from British tourists visting Turkey, Spain, Egypt and France. It is estimated that by 2050 the weight of the plastic in the oceans will equal the weight of the fish. Plastic water bottles and nappies take 450 years to biodegrade, and can cause tiny pieces of plastic to enter the food chain. Steps were urged to reduce the waste.

Key Takeaways:

• WWF, a leading conservation charity, has warned that toxic micro-plastics are entering the human food chain after being consumed by marine life.
• To reduce pollution and protect life, the charity is encouraging holidaymakers to reduce or avoid using single-use items such as straws and bottles.
• Since the broadcast of Blue Planet II in autumn 2017, organizations and governments worldwide are banning single-use plastics due to pressure from consumers and campaign groups.

“Holidaymakers are being urged to shun single-use plastic this summer in a bid to combat a surge in pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.”

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/plastic-pollution-in-the-med-reaches-record-level/