Styrofoam, bottles from China and discarded fishing gear—these are some of the objects competing with sea life for space in the waters around Taiwan. Taiwan’s once picturesque beaches are becoming more known for their trash than their beauty. Despite the tireless efforts of volunteers to clean them up, the root cause of ocean pollution lies far beyond the shores.

We talk to experts Tina Lin and Nate Maynard about how human activity fuels this global crisis and what can be done to stop it.