Marine debris is recognized as a globally significant stressor on the marine and coastal environment, with impacts on marine biodiversity having been reported over the last four decades. There are also socioeconomic impacts, as debris can be a health and safety hazard and can also affect commercially significant resources. The vast majority of marine debris is made up of various forms of plastic that are highly persistent and often contain toxic chemicals or acquire them from the surrounding seawater. The fragmentation of plastics produces large numbers of microplastic particles that are easily taken up by a wide range of marine organisms. Plastic production has grown exponentially since the 1950s and is expected to continue at an increasing rate over the coming decades. According to current estimates, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic waste entered the marine environment in 2010
