We have all been converted to the idea that plastics have very detrimental effects on life in our seas (choking turtles and micro-particles being ingested by plankton). A recent study carried out on 125000 corals in the Asia-Pacific region has, however, added to the concern by finding that, whilst only 4% of reefs in plastic free areas were diseased, the incidence of disease rose to 89% in plastic-contaminated locations (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/25/billions-of-pieces-of-plastic-on-coral-reefs-send-disease-soaring-research-reveals). This suggests that plastics may entirely destroy major habitats on which many organisms depend. Perhaps politicians can be encouraged to get their act together more quickly than seems to be the case at present?
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