Garbage in the Ocean, Something's Fishy.

The collection of garbage in gyres is due to the currents of the Pacific Ocean. Of these wastes, 80% comes from the land and 20% are thrown off of ship or oil platforms.

The garbage in the ocean ends up being eaten by the animals in the sea, such as fish and turtles. Although the garbage is in the ocean, it also affects birds seabirds because their source of food is in the ocean where all the garbage is. Hence, they end up eating the garbage instead of their intended meal. As a result, "[s]yringes, cigarette lighters, and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food" (Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent, and Daniel Howden). The UN Environment Programme have found that "plastic debris cause the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more then 100,000 marine mammals" (Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent, and Daniel Howden).

Often fish and other sea animals are deceived by plastic because the floating particles resemble zooplankton, which leads the the plastic particle are mistaken as food and is being consumed by jellyfish, therefore entering the ocean food chain. Plastic can never be digested because of the nature of its chemical bonds and its high molecular weight. Not only does it not provide nutrients, but plastic makes the fish feel full even though they are not consuming food. Investigations have shown that plastic in birds prevent migration, reproduction, and ultimately cause starvation and later death. If no reproduction is occurring, then as the birds die, they will become extinct. In turtles, plastic blocks their intestines and also causes them to float. Thus, they are unable to dive underwater to eat food. Plastic is like ghost fishermen and the animals get entangled in these plastic nets. If the animals die because of ingested plastic, they decay and since the plastic doesn't get digested, it is still present. After the animal decays, the leftover plastic gets washed back into the ocean and it is ready to kill another marine animal.

The toxic chemicals from the debris also make the marine animals sick. Toxic chemicals are released from "plastic sectors" are harmful to animals and humans as well.