Main litter types found in oceans worldwide 2021, by environment

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 16 percent of litter found at the shoreline, and almost of quarter 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 23 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.