You may have heard of the North Pacific Gyre. According to Wikipedia, “the North Pacific Gyre (also known as North Pacific Subtropical Gyre) is a clockwise-swirling vortex of ocean currents comprising most of the northern Pacific Ocean. It is located between the equator and 50º N latitude and occupies an area of approximately ten million square miles (34 million km²).”

Sadly, floating around within the gyre is a massive accumulation of plastic garbage known as “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”, “Plastic Soup”, or “The Pacific Trash Vortex” that’s double the size of Texas.

As the floating plastic breaks down it resembles zooplankton (a predominant food-source for jellyfish), thus making it’s entry into the ocean food chain. Fish, birds and other marine animals also consume the plastics.

Water samples taken from the gyre by scientists in 2001 indicate that plastic within the ocean are now six times more prevalent than zooplankton - further proof that we humans are fucking up the planet beyond repair.

VBS.tv has compiled a great documentary exploring the issue. It’s well worth a watch.

Sadly, “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch” Isn’t contained in a manageable patch or a cluster, rather, the Pacific is becoming a massive toxic stew, and it’s a big big problem.