Conservationists warn Covid waste may result in 'more masks than jellyfish' in the sea

Beaches on the French Côte d'Azur like Cannes or St. Tropez are among the most coveted vacation spots worldwide, but now the coronavirus pandemic has left an abundance of pollutants in the water: discarded masks and gloves. "How would you like swimming with COVID-19 this summer?" Laurent Lombard, a diver and founder of the nonprofit Opération Mer Propre (Operation Clean Sea) asked in a Facebook post last month.

Julie Hellec, a spokesperson for Opération Mer Propre, told CNN that the sight of PPE floating in the Mediterranean was a first in 15 years of diving for Lombard. "When you suddenly have a population of 7 million people wearing one to two masks per day the amount of trash generated is going to be substantial," they wrote on their website.

Nick Mallos, a senior director with the nonprofit organization Ocean Conservancy, called these numbers "staggering."If items like masks and gloves end up in the ocean, species like seabirds and sea turtles might become entangled in them or ingest them, according to Mallos.

Mallos and others are optimistic that this moment will help generate even more awareness about the importance of proper waste management and of making environmentally conscious decisions. That's something conservationists have worked hard over the years to get people, governments and businesses on board with.