Our ocean is under siege. From everyday trash like plastic bags and drink bottles to larger items like car batteries and fishing nets, our rubbish is entering the ocean at an alarming rate.

With our taste for plastic increasing, we’re living in a world that’s turning our ocean into a garbage dump. Global annual plastic production has exploded, from 1.7 million tons in 1950 to almost 300 million tons today.

Marine debris is not only unsightly, it’s also dangerous to sea life, hazardous to human health and costly to our economies. Marine animals can become entangled in debris or mistake small particles of trash for food, often with fatal results.

People all over the world joined together to celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8. Here are two things you can do to make a positive impact and be part of the solution, every day of the year:

1. Watch and share The Ugly Journey of Our Trash. Help by educating your community, friends and colleagues on how our rubbish becomes the ocean’s problem.

2. Dive Against Debris

Next time you’re heading for a dive, don’t let it go to waste. Join tens of thousands of divers worldwide who remove and report rubbish found underwater on every dive.

Together, we can shine a light on the impact of marine debris and share our view for the world to see. Discover more about the Ugly Journey of Our Trash.