If the Romans were to name the Mediterranean Sea nowadays, I believe they would call it Mare Plasticum instead of Mare Nostrum ( = Our Sea) and would have most likely forfeited their ownership.

It is truly dreadful the amount of plastic garbage that one encounters in the Med. There is an almost constant stream of pieces of plastic and plastic bags at sea. Often, one can see bottles or disposable coolers or parts of them floating around. Many beaches and little bays are dirty with plastic stuff wash out from the sea. I found it particularly offensive, because this is my Mare Nostrum, I grow up here. It is a beautiful place and I despair seeing it this way. Seventeen years ago, when Mark and I cruised around the Med last time, it was already bad. I have thought that people would have become more aware, but it seems that has taken a turn for the worse and not the better.

Marta