#MarineScience - A Dutch teenager writes BBC News, who went swimming in the sea in Greece seven years ago, was shocked to see more plastic than fish.
In fact, Boyan Slat was so appalled by the pollution that he soon started to campaign for the oceans to be cleaned up.
For a long time, few people took him seriously. Here was a university drop-out with a far-fetched idea that surely could never work.
But (last) weekend, backed by major investment and some massive engineering, a vast plastic collection system was towed out of San Francisco Bay.
Until now, the focus of plastic litter campaigns has been on beaches, with volunteers all over the world lifting bags and bottles from shorelines.
For much more on the plastic clean-up and accompanying images and an ocean plastic chart, click here.
Afloat adds information on the massive operation can be found on The Ocean CleanUp website.