Just one word: "Plastics"

The Independent (London) is reporting that 90% of garbage in the sea is comprised of plastics.

Here's an excerpt: "The vast expanse of debris – in effect the world's largest rubbish dump – is held in place by swirling underwater currents. This drifting "soup" stretches from about 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast, across the northern Pacific, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan." "The UN Environment Programme estimated in 2006 that every square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of floating plastic."

The complete article by Kathy Marks, Asia-Pacific Correspondent, and Daniel Howden is here.

MARPOL (MARine POLution) treaty info here.