The effects of litter on ocean animals is significant, but international efforts to clean the world’s beaches and oceans have made a significant impact, reports the Ocean Conservancy in their annual report. Over half a million people contributed to International Coastal Cleanup Day in 112 countries, collecting over 18 million pounds of trash. The impact of the cleanup is notable because trash – and plastic especially – have daily impact on wildlife.

But efforts made around the world are making a difference, from the beach cleanup organized by the Ocean Conservancy to banning single-use plastic bags in California. Having clean beaches means having clean oceans, and the Ocean Conservancy is taking steps around the world to lessen humans’ impact on wildlife.

Photo: Trash fills Lanna Bay, off of Thailand’s Phi Phi island | Photo Credit: Fabio Achilli / Flickr