According to the British newspaper, The Independent, 17,600 metric tons of plastic waste is dumped annually in southern Europe, while 3,760 metric tons float on the surface of seawater.
The data indicates that 84 percent of the waste dumped ends up on beaches, but 16 percent remains on the surface of the water or goes to the depths of the sea.
These figures, which were described as alarming, were issued by the “Hellenic” Center for Marine Research in Greece, and the study was published in the newspaper “Frontiers”.
The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most affected and vulnerable seas, because most of its coasts are inhabited, and it witnessed intensive fishing, recreational and tourism activities.
Edit by Khalil Saeed Rizq