A staggering amount of litter now pollutes the world's oceans, from shorelines to the seafloor. The litter types most commonly found depend greatly on the aquatic environment. Globally, plastic bags account for roughly ** percent of litter found at the shoreline, and almost **** of all litter found in nearshore waters. Synthetic ropes are the most found form of litter in open waters, while plastic bottles account for some ** percent of litter found on the deep seafloor.
Waterway litter is a major environmental issue worldwide and is responsible for causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine animals every year.
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The Guardian. (July 25, 2022). Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. "Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment." Chart. July 25, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. (2022). Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian. "Distribution of Litter Types Found in Oceans Worldwide as of 2021, by Environment." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 25 Jul 2022, /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
The Guardian, Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Distribution of litter types found in oceans worldwide as of 2021, by environment [Graph], The Guardian, July 25, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1337754/litter-types-found-in-aquatic-environments-worldwide/
