This photo taken on June 13, 2011 shows a Chinese boy running along the rubbish-strewn beach along the sea coast in Anquan village, south China's Hainan province. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

The Pacific Ocean has long been the ultimate symbol of paradise and marine diversity, but now, it has become a heartbreaking picture of devastating pollution.

Throughout the world’s largest ocean, there are or areas with swirling vortices of marine litter, says National Geographic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the most massive patch of pollution, stretching from Japan to the West Coast.

But who is contributing to this never-ending swirl of disgusting garbage? According to in the journal Science, China is one of the worst offenders.

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The above photos depict just one area where this dire situation has shown its ugly face. South China’s Anquan village is a particularly grotesque scene of rubbish, stretching along the beaches as far as the eye can see.

Several organizations around the world are working to prevent situations like that on Anquan's beaches, including , which seeks to “extract, prevent and intercept plastic pollution.”

Boyan Slat, the organization’s founder, recalled diving when he was 16: “When I went, the water had a close . I saw more plastic bags than fish,” he told the Huffington Post.

The Pacific is in the middle of a crisis, and only time will tell if we have the resources and perseverance to save one of the Earth’s greatest gems.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Ocean Conservancy Beach Cleanup

Spain

Volunteers participate in the 2012 Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup in Spain. (Image: Tolik El Ucraniano/Ocean Conservancy)