Holidaymakers are being urged to shun single-use plastic this summer in a bid to combat a surge in pollution in the Mediterranean Sea.

An annual influx of 200 million tourists across the region is responsible for a 40 per cent increase in marine litter entering the sea, of which a staggering 95 per cent is plastic waste, according to a report commissioned by WWF, a leading conservation charity.

The Mediterranean, which is home to just one per cent of the world’s water, now contains record levels of plastic pollution and accounts for seven per cent of the global problem.

Turkey, Spain, Italy, Egypt and France, which together welcome around 34 million British holidaymakers annually, were found to be the largest contributors of plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.

WWF also warned that toxic microplastics, small fragments of plastic eroded by UV light and waves, are being consumed by marine life, thereby entering the human food chain to land on holiday dinner plates.

Around 34 million British holidaymakers will visit Turkey, Spain, Italy, Egypt or France this summer Credit: ELEMENTALS

The shocking findings were released on World Oceans Day (June 8), which is being marked across the globe, and as popular spots across Europe gear up for the summer season.

In response, the charity is calling for holidaymakers to reduce their plastic footprint this summer by avoiding single-use items such as straws, coffee cups, bottles and bags to reduce pollution and protect life.

“The Mediterranean is a beautiful holiday destination enjoyed by millions of British people each summer but when we come home with our happy memories, we’re leaving behind a toxic legacy of plastic waste,” said Tanya Steele, chief executive of WWF.

“The birds, fish, and turtles of the Mediterranean are choking on plastic, but our report also shows plastic is ending up in the fish and seafood we eat on holiday. That’s why we’re asking people to think about how they can cut down on the amount of single-use plastic they use and throw away on holiday,” she added.

Global awareness of the scale of the plastic pollution problem in the world’s oceans has gathered momentum since the broadcast of Blue Planet II in autumn 2017.

Organisations and governments across the globe have since taken steps to ban single-use plastic under mounting pressure from consumers and campaign groups.

India, which has a population of 1.3 billion, recently announced an ambitious plan to eradicate single-use plastic from the country by 2022.

WWF is now calling for the UK Government, which currently has a plan to phase-out single-use plastic across the country by 2042, to introduce a ban on items by 2025.

Europe is now the second largest producer of plastic, after China, with 500,000 tonnes - the equivalent of 66,000 rubbish trucks - being dumped in rivers and oceans across the continent annually, according to the report.

The Mediterranean is home to more than 25,000 plant and animal species, of which 60 per cent are endemic.

WWF’s plastic-free summer tips

Bring a bag for life

Pack a reusable bag to avoid plastic bags when shopping for food or buying souvenirs.

Think twice about buying plastic inflatables

Pool toys, buckets and spades made of plastic are not recyclable. Seek to buy good quality items that can be used on future holidays.

Do not buy this Credit: EYEEM/IGOR FAINSTEIN

Pack a ‘spork’ (spoon/fork)

From little plastic spoons to eat ice-cream on the beach to plastic cutlery used at a picnic lunch - your impact on the planet could be reduced by carrying reusable cutlery.

Bring a reusable water bottle

As a nation we buy 38.5 million plastic bottles every day – and only around half of these are recycled; the rest go to landfill or end up as litter. In countries where the tap water is safe to drink, bringing your own reusable water bottle or asking for tap water at restaurants saves money whilst reducing your holiday plastic waste. If you are unsure whether the tap water is safe to drink in the area you are visiting, make sure to dispose of any bottles appropriately.

Say no to straws

When choosing what cocktail to have during your holiday, remember to say no to plastic straws and stirrers. These items are constantly found on beaches, in the stomachs of seabirds and marine mammals, and also break down further to become harmful microplastics, which pollute our oceans.

Bring your own coffee cup

Bring your reusable cup with you for morning coffees, afternoon pick-me-ups and night time drinks. Some UK events, festivals and many coffee shops will also give you discounts on hot drinks for bringing your own cup. Plus, they are great to bring with you for long car journeys.

Avoid chewing gum

Freshen up with mints instead of chewing gum, which contains plastic, after a flight. Chewing gum is not degradable and often litters pavements and beaches.

Ditch face wipes

Opt for washable cloths instead of face wipes, which contain plastic and do not degrade in the environment. In the UK alone, more than 3.4 billion wet wipes are used annually with almost a third of these being flushed down the loo and entering our oceans.

Leave only your footsteps

Make sure to leave the beaches, campsites and hilltops you visit, the way you found them. You could do even better than this by taking more rubbish away with you than you produced. For instance, take time to do a 10 minute clean-up when you leave the beach for the day.

If renting a property – check out the local recycling

Make sure to research where the nearest bottle bank and recycling bins are in the area you are staying. This could help to reduce your impact from plastic waste whilst you are on holiday.

Explore the local food markets

Make a point of visiting food markets when you’re abroad, where you can sample fresh produce, learn more about the local food culture and pick up delicious ingredients that you can use to cook in your holiday accommodation. Whilst it’s great to eat out on holiday, it can make a refreshing change to try cooking some local cuisine yourself.