Now this is probably less surprising because you know that people just throw their trash out windows or just drop them on the street. Some people just throw it in a stream. The trash from those people will eventually go into the ocean.

People

Runoff? Yes runoff, you may ask what is runoff and what does that have to do with the ocean? Well runoff is the main cause of pollution with 80%! It is where fresh water runs into the ocean and some people make this just for fun.

Runoff

Causes

Birds may surprise many people but they are affected a lot too. Many birds survive on eating fish. Shiny objects like cans could confuse them. Many birds die from trash, thinking that they are fish.

Birds

Fish are affected many ways and by pollution like broken glass some fish have bad vision which makes them run into glass and cut themselves. Also some fish try to live in bottles and they implode which kills or harms the fish. Over 1 million sea animals die a year from pollution.

Fish

Fish and other creatures affected

​Is pollution getting worse?

In a short answer yes, sadly. There is no way to clean up the ocean fully but there are ways to help it like recycling. Recycling is where you don't throw away bottles or glass but you reuse them. You can use them for wind chimes or whatever you want.

Works Cited

Reddy, Simon. “Plastic Pollution Affects Sea Life Throughout the Ocean.” The Pew Charitable Trusts, Pew, 24 September 2018, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2018/09/24/plastic-pollution-affects-sea-life-throughout-the-ocean. Accessed 25 January 2024

“Marine Pollution.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/marine-pollution/. Accessed 26 January 2024.

“What is the biggest source of pollution in the ocean?” National Ocean Service, 24 August 2023, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/pollution.html. Accessed 24 January 2024.