The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?  It is mostly tiny bits of plastic that float around in the ocean. Some of the pieces are so tiny that you can barely see them.  It is also bigger pieces of plastic such as plastic bags that haven’t been broken down yet, water bottles and fishing rods.  It is in the Pacific Ocean.

Map of Great Pacific Garbage Patch The black patch is the great pacific garbage patch

How are fish, marine mammals, and birds affected by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

FISH  The fish eat the little tiny pieces of plastic. They feel full. They slowly start to starve and then they die.  The plastic comes out of the fish but the chemicals from the plastic stay in the fish’s body. The chemicals are bad for the fish.

Marine Mammals Seals get tangled up in plastic bags, ropes and plastic rings.

Birds  Birds think the plastic is food and they eat the bigger pieces. But the plastic stays in them and doesn’t come out. 

My Questions  What is the most common item in the garbage patch?  How much plastic is in the patch?  Where does the plastic come from that ends up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?  Why do people leave their garbage everywhere?  How can I help it?

ANSWER TO MY QUESTION