Great Pacific Garbage Patch (ongoing)

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic on Earth, containing an estimated 80,000 tonnes of debris spread across a 1.6 million km² area, an expanse three times the size of France. This massive gyre holds over 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, with 94% of these being microplastics. These tiny particles break down further and infiltrate every level of the marine food chain. Microplastic concentrations in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are reported to be 32% higher than in any other ocean gyre, and their continuous ingestion by marine life is believed to reduce fish reproductive rates.