Plastic debris in the open ocean has become a growing concern due to its accumulation and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. A study using data from the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation, regional surveys, and published reports reveals a global distribution of plastic on the ocean surface, primarily accumulating in the convergence zones of the five subtropical gyres. However, the estimated global load of plastic on the open ocean surface is in the tens of thousands of tons, significantly less than expected. The study highlights the importance of size-selective sinks that remove millimeter-sized plastic fragments on a large scale, possibly involving nano-fragmentation, food web transfer, and ballasting processes. The study also shows that plastic pollution is dominated by particles smaller than 1 cm, known as microplastics. These particles can be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, leading to potential health impacts. The study suggests that plastic fragments may be removed from the surface through mechanisms such as nano-fragmentation, biofouling, ingestion, and shore deposition. Despite the high concentration of plastic in certain areas, historical data show no significant increase in surface plastic concentration since the 1980s, indicating that surface waters may not be the final destination for buoyant plastic debris. The study provides a first-order approximation of the global load of plastic debris in surface waters of the open ocean, estimating it between 7,000 and 35,000 tons. The size distribution of plastic debris shows a peak around 2 mm, with a gap below 1 mm, suggesting a size-selective loss process. The study also highlights the need for further research to understand the mechanisms of plastic removal and the ultimate fate of plastic debris in the ocean. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean to mitigate its impacts on marine ecosystems.Plastic debris in the open ocean has become a growing concern due to its accumulation and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. A study using data from the Malaspina 2010 circumnavigation, regional surveys, and published reports reveals a global distribution of plastic on the ocean surface, primarily accumulating in the convergence zones of the five subtropical gyres. However, the estimated global load of plastic on the open ocean surface is in the tens of thousands of tons, significantly less than expected. The study highlights the importance of size-selective sinks that remove millimeter-sized plastic fragments on a large scale, possibly involving nano-fragmentation, food web transfer, and ballasting processes. The study also shows that plastic pollution is dominated by particles smaller than 1 cm, known as microplastics. These particles can be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, leading to potential health impacts. The study suggests that plastic fragments may be removed from the surface through mechanisms such as nano-fragmentation, biofouling, ingestion, and shore deposition. Despite the high concentration of plastic in certain areas, historical data show no significant increase in surface plastic concentration since the 1980s, indicating that surface waters may not be the final destination for buoyant plastic debris. The study provides a first-order approximation of the global load of plastic debris in surface waters of the open ocean, estimating it between 7,000 and 35,000 tons. The size distribution of plastic debris shows a peak around 2 mm, with a gap below 1 mm, suggesting a size-selective loss process. The study also highlights the need for further research to understand the mechanisms of plastic removal and the ultimate fate of plastic debris in the ocean. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the issue of plastic pollution in the ocean to mitigate its impacts on marine ecosystems.