Maya Ellison
Sea turtles have survived for over 100 million years, outliving the dinosaurs, but now face a new threat in the form of plastic pollution. Plastic waste in the ocean is a massive problem, with an estimated 5–13 million metric tons entering the oceans each year. This plastic waste is extremely harmful to sea turtles, who ingest it or become entangled in it, often resulting in death. The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is devastating, and it is contributing to the decline in global turtle population numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingestion | Sea turtles ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food (e.g. plastic bags that look like jellyfish) or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. |
| Plastic ingestion impact | Plastic ingestion can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick the turtles into feeling full when they are not, resulting in malnutrition, reduced growth rates, and even death. |
| Plastic entanglement | Sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. |
| Plastic entanglement impact | Entanglement can lead to choking, loss of limbs, and other injuries, and can cause turtles to drown if they are weighed down and unable to surface. |
| Plastic pollution | Plastic pollution is a growing threat to sea turtles, with an estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million metric tons of plastic debris entering the oceans in 2010 alone, and this input is expected to increase over time. |
| Plastic pollution impact | Plastic pollution can lead to environmental and health problems, impacting sea turtles and many other marine species. |
| Global efforts | There is a growing movement of people, organizations, governments, and businesses taking action to fight plastic pollution worldwide, through initiatives such as UN Environment's Clean Seas Campaign and World Turtle Day. |
| Individual actions | Individuals can reduce plastic waste by using reusable containers, refusing single-use plastic, picking up trash, and participating in beach cleanups. |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic ingestion: turtles eat plastic that resembles their natural food, which can cause intestinal blockage and death
- Entanglement: turtles get caught in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, and can choke, lose limbs, or drown
- Human development: urbanisation impacts nesting beaches, and plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, affecting young turtles
- Environmental impact: plastic pollution leads to environmental issues and affects entire food chains, including turtles
- Solutions: reducing plastic waste, using reusable items, and participating in beach clean-ups can help protect turtles
Plastic ingestion: turtles eat plastic that resembles their natural food, which can cause intestinal blockage and death
Sea turtles have survived mass extinctions and outlived the dinosaurs, but they are now struggling to withstand the impacts of plastic pollution. Plastic ingestion is a serious threat to sea turtles, with scientists estimating that more than half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic. This occurs when turtles mistake plastic for their natural food, such as a plastic bag resembling a jellyfish, or accidentally eat plastic that is present near their food, such as a plastic straw on the seafloor.
Young sea turtles are particularly at risk of ingesting plastic. This is because they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living in flotsam and eating other organisms that float with the currents. Plastic waste is also transported by ocean currents, leading to an unfortunate convergence that puts young turtles in danger of consuming plastic.
The ingestion of plastic can cause physical damage to turtles, including intestinal blockages and internal bleeding. It can also trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, leading to starvation. In some cases, even a single piece of plastic can kill a turtle. For example, in a study of nearly 1,000 turtles found dead on Australian beaches, researchers found that two turtles had been killed by a single piece of plastic, with one turtle's gut punctured and the other's gut clogged.
The threat of plastic ingestion is well-documented in all seven marine turtle species, but it is understudied in non-marine turtles. Out of 352 non-marine turtle species, plastic ingestion has only been reported in five species. This suggests that the potential threat of plastic ingestion to non-marine turtles is not fully understood and requires further research.
To address the issue of plastic ingestion in turtles, individuals can take steps to reduce their use of single-use plastics and properly dispose of their waste. Organizations are also working to combat plastic pollution through clean-up efforts, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns. Additionally, governments and businesses are taking action to reduce plastic pollution and develop solutions to this global problem.
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Entanglement: turtles get caught in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, and can choke, lose limbs, or drown
Sea turtles have survived mass extinctions, outliving the dinosaurs, but they are now under threat from plastic pollution. Plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, converging with the flotsam in which young sea turtles live, and the organisms that they eat. As a result, young turtles are at a high risk of ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it.
All species of turtle have been found entangled in plastic, but Olive Ridley turtles are the most likely species to get tangled. They nest and forage in areas where marine debris aggregates, and they may be attracted to feeding on marine rubbish, including discarded fishing tackle.
The most common plastic items that turtles get entangled in are lost or discarded fishing gear, known as "ghost nets" or "ghost gear", and other debris such as six-pack rings, plastic twine, nylon fishing line, plastic packaging straps, and plastic balloon string. Turtles can get entangled while migrating, feeding, or nesting, and the consequences can be fatal.
Mortality from entanglement has increased substantially over the last century, and more than 1000 turtles are estimated to die every year from becoming tangled in plastic. 91% of entangled turtles are found dead, and those that survive often suffer serious wounds, leading to choking, limb loss, and drowning. Young turtles and hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to entanglement.
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Human development: urbanisation impacts nesting beaches, and plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, affecting young turtles
Sea turtles have survived mass extinctions and outlived the dinosaurs, but they are now facing a new threat: plastic pollution. Plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, converging with young sea turtles and putting them at risk of ingestion or entanglement. Human development, particularly urbanisation, has also impacted nesting beaches, blocking access to optimal nesting sites and increasing the number of predators in the area.
Sea turtles spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living in flotsam such as Sargassum mats (brown algae) and eating other organisms that float with the currents. Unfortunately, plastic waste is also transported by these currents, leading to a convergence that puts young sea turtles at higher risk. Ingesting plastic can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, resulting in sickness or even death. For example, plastic bags can resemble jellyfish, a turtle's natural food, and if ingested, can cause a fatal blockage in the gut.
Entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, or "ghost nets," is another significant threat. Young turtles and hatchlings are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled and, once weighed down, are unable to surface and drown. Sea turtles that cannot properly submerge due to entanglement or ingestion of plastic also become more vulnerable to boat strikes and predation.
Urbanisation has heavily impacted sea turtle nesting beaches. Seawalls and other hard structures block access to optimal nesting sites, and human development near nesting sites can increase the number of predators in the area. Oil spills also threaten marine turtles by contaminating nesting beaches, damaging their health, and reducing food sources.
While plastic pollution poses a significant threat to sea turtles, there is hope. Efforts to address this issue are already underway globally, and many solutions exist. Individuals can make a difference by reducing their plastic waste, using reusable containers, and picking up trash when they see it. Organisations like the WWF and the Sea Turtle Conservancy are also working to protect sea turtles and raise awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution.
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Environmental impact: plastic pollution leads to environmental issues and affects entire food chains, including turtles
Sea turtles have survived mass extinctions and outlived the dinosaurs, but they are now facing a new threat in the form of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is a growing environmental issue that is impacting sea turtles and other marine species worldwide. Between 5 and 13 million metric tons of plastic waste are estimated to enter our oceans annually, which is equal to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic every minute. If the current trend continues, this rate is expected to increase to two garbage trucks per minute by 2030 and four per minute by 2050. By 2050, it is predicted that there will be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by weight.
Sea turtles come into contact with plastic debris at various stages of their life cycle and in different habitats, both near the coast and in the open ocean. Young sea turtles are at particularly high risk of ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic. This is because they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living in flotsam and eating other organisms that float with the currents. Plastic waste is also transported by ocean currents, leading to an unfortunate convergence that puts young sea turtles at risk. Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. Additionally, research has found that sea turtles are attracted to the smell of marine plastics, likely due to the organisms that latch on to plastic debris in the ocean.
The ingestion of plastic by sea turtles can have severe health consequences, including intestinal blockage, malnutrition, reduced growth rates, and even death. Plastic debris can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick the turtles into feeling full when they are not, resulting in starvation. Entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear or "ghost nets," is another significant threat to sea turtles. It can cause choking, limb loss, and other injuries that may be irreparable. The fishing industry is a serious contributor to this issue, as turtles often become entangled in fishing gear and, weighed down, are unable to surface and drown.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles highlights the far-reaching environmental consequences of this issue. It affects entire food chains and ecosystems, with plastic spreading across oceans and being consumed by marine animals, big and small. Microplastics, in particular, can be spread and ingested by fish and other marine life, further perpetuating the problem. While sea turtles are the focus of this discussion, it is important to recognize that plastic pollution has broader implications for the health of our oceans and the diverse species that depend on them.
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Solutions: reducing plastic waste, using reusable items, and participating in beach clean-ups can help protect turtles
Sea turtles are under significant threat from human activities, with six out of seven sea turtle species classified as threatened, endangered, or critically endangered. One of the primary dangers they face is plastic pollution, which can lead to ingestion or entanglement, causing internal injuries, intestinal blockages, malnutrition, reduced growth rates, and even death.
To protect sea turtles, it is crucial to reduce plastic waste. This can be achieved by refusing single-use plastics and opting for reusable alternatives, such as shopping bags and straws made from reusable or biodegradable materials like wood, bamboo, paper, or glass. By reducing plastic consumption, we can decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean, giving turtles one less hazard to navigate.
Another way to help is by participating in beach clean-ups. These initiatives provide an opportunity to remove trash, including plastic waste, from nesting beaches. Beach clean-ups not only help create safer spaces for turtles to lay their eggs but also educate participants about the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. By joining or organizing beach clean-ups, individuals can take an active role in protecting sea turtles and raising awareness about the importance of reducing plastic waste.
Using reusable items is also a key part of the solution. When plastic is avoided or reduced, the demand for plastic packaging decreases, sending a clear signal to companies worldwide. This can be achieved by choosing reusable containers, water bottles, and coffee cups instead of their single-use plastic counterparts. By embracing reusable options, we can minimize the amount of plastic waste that enters the ocean and endangers sea turtles.
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Frequently asked questions
Sea turtles have survived mass extinctions and outlived the dinosaurs, but they are struggling to withstand the impacts of plastic on their environments. Plastic pollution is a growing threat to sea turtles worldwide, and scientists are only beginning to understand its impacts. Sea turtles ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their food. Plastic ingestion can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, which can cause them to become sick or even die. Sea turtles can also become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting.
Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as plastic bags that look like jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food, such as plastic straws on the seafloor among crustaceans. Additionally, researchers have found that sea turtles are attracted to the smell of marine plastics due to the organisms that latch on to plastic debris in the ocean.
Plastic ingestion can cause a variety of issues for turtles. It can lead to intestinal blockages, malnutrition, reduced growth rates, and even death. One of the most distressing fates is when the plastic in the turtle's stomach imitates the sensation of being full, leading to starvation. Plastic can also cause physical damage to their intestines, including piercing the intestinal wall and causing internal bleeding.
We can take individual actions to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering our oceans. This includes investing in reusable containers, cutlery, and bags, as well as picking up trash when we see it, especially during beach walks. Additionally, we can avoid using disposable plastics and personal care products containing microbeads, and refrain from releasing balloons, as they can end up in waterways and harm marine life.
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