Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution is a severe threat to marine life, with at least 8 million tons of plastic ending up in the oceans each year. Marine species are affected by plastic in a variety of ways, including entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination. Large items of plastic can entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. Small plastic fragments can be mistaken for food by seabirds and other marine species, causing suffocation and starvation. Microplastics, in particular, can adsorb toxins, which accumulate in the fatty tissues of organisms and lead to toxic contamination. The presence of plastic waste in the ocean also damages marine habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, affecting the entire ecosystem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine life entanglement | Marine mammals, fish, sea lions, turtles, dolphins, whales, seals, birds, sharks, seahorses, coral reefs, humans |
| Marine life ingestion | Fish, molluscs, seabirds, turtles, whales, dolphins, seals, birds, sharks, seahorses, coral reefs, humans |
| Plastic durability | Plastic bottles can last 450 years in marine environments |
| Plastic toxicity | Microplastics adsorb toxins, which can transfer to the fatty tissues of organisms that ingest them, leading to biomagnification |
| Plastic ubiquity | Plastic has been found on all continents, in all five of Earth's ocean gyres, and in traditional salt-producing ponds in Indonesia |
| Plastic volume | 8-13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, making up 80% of marine debris |
| Plastic pollution prevention | Prohibiting polythene bags, applying charges/taxes, reducing single-use plastics, proper disposal, supporting cleanups, spreading awareness |
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Plastic ingestion
Marine animals, from zooplankton to blue whales, are ingesting plastic, which is having devastating effects on their health. A study summarising over 100 research papers on plastic ingestion among 500 fish species found that over two-thirds had consumed plastic. Marine megafauna, such as whales, are also vulnerable to plastic ingestion. In 2019, a whale was found washed up with 40kg of plastic in its stomach, mostly plastic bags.
Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags and other flimsy plastic items for jellyfish, and ingest them. This ingested plastic can obstruct their digestive systems, and sea turtles that eat just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death. Turtles that have died from plastic consumption have been found with plastic bags or fishing lines in their stomachs.
Seabirds are also highly vulnerable to plastic ingestion. They tend to consume the highest concentration of plastic, and it is estimated that plastic waste kills up to a million seabirds a year. Dead albatross chicks have been found with plastic debris in their stomachs.
Microplastics are invisible to the naked eye, making them easy for wildlife to consume. They can also adsorb toxins, which can then transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. Microplastics have been found in 114 aquatic species, and more than half of those end up on our dinner plates.
The effects of plastic ingestion are not limited to marine life. Humans are also affected when they eat seafood containing microplastics.
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Entanglement
Marine animals can become entangled in plastic debris, which can be life-threatening. Large items of plastic can entrap marine mammals and fish, preventing them from escaping and leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. For example, sea lions are susceptible to entanglement in fishing lines, plastic packing bands, and rubber bands. An eight-year study in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia recorded 388 sea lions entangled in plastic debris.
Smaller marine animals, such as dolphins, seals, and smaller sea turtles, can be captured and disentangled by trained professionals. However, freeing entangled animals can be dangerous for both the animal and the rescuers. Specialized tools and techniques have been developed to safely disentangle whales and other large marine creatures, often from small inflatable rescue boats.
The problem of entanglement is not limited to animals but also extends to coral reefs. Discarded fishing nets can smother and break coral reefs, hindering their healthy growth.
The presence of plastic debris in the ocean, leading to entanglement and other issues, is a recognized international problem. It poses a threat to marine life, including seabirds, marine mammals, and fish, and has attracted media and public attention due to its visual impact and emotive nature.
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Habitat destruction
Marine habitats are vulnerable to plastic pollution, which can have a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Plastic waste in oceans threatens marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
Plastic pollution can lead to habitat destruction in several ways. Large plastic debris, such as shipping containers, can crush habitats and leave long-lasting damage. They can also release toxins into the sediment, further contaminating the environment. This is harmful to coral reefs, which are delicate ecosystems that provide habitats for diverse communities of plants, fish, and other organisms. Plastic marine debris can smother coral reefs, restricting oxygen flow and impeding their growth. Abandoned fishing nets can also smother and break coral reefs, hindering their healthy development.
Microplastics, or plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimetres, pose a significant threat to corals and other marine ecosystems. They can be ingested by corals or become trapped in the sediment and grass blades of seagrass beds, impacting their growth and performance. Mangroves, which provide protection and stabilisation to coastlines, are also vulnerable to plastic marine debris. This debris can block the movement of water and alter the natural flow of these ecosystems.
Plastic pollution can also enable the spread of invasive species, disrupting the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. Floating plastic debris allows some coastal organisms to travel far beyond their natural habitats and thrive in new environments, outcompeting native species. Additionally, plastics can act as magnets for toxins, becoming increasingly harmful over time to any animal that ingests them.
The durability of plastic materials contributes to the persistence of plastic pollution in marine habitats. Once plastic enters the ocean, it can remain there for extended periods, continuously breaking down into smaller microplastics that are challenging to retrieve. This slow degradation ensures that plastic pollution remains a long-term issue, constantly raising the levels of microplastics in the marine environment.
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Microplastics
The ingestion of microplastics can be lethal to marine life. It can lead to entanglement in the stomach, causing starvation and death. It is estimated that marine plastics contribute to the death of more than 100,000 marine mammals every year. In addition, microplastics can adsorb toxins, which can then be transferred to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them, leading to toxic contamination.
The impact of microplastics on marine life is a growing concern, with immediate actions required against the unnecessary use of plastics and their products. New scientific studies are needed to understand the various factors influencing the presence of microplastics in marine ecosystems and their biological impacts.
Furthermore, microplastics can also affect coral reefs, which are a vital part of coastal ecosystems. Corals obtain energy by feeding on plankton and through photosynthesis with single-celled algae present in their tissues. However, when corals ingest microplastics, the plastic fragments can get retained in their mesenterial tissue, leading to a reduction in feeding capability and lower energy reserves.
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Chemical pollution
Marine life is severely impacted by the chemical pollution caused by plastics. The annual amount of plastic entering the ocean is estimated to be approximately 8 million metric tons, with plastic debris being the most abundant form of marine litter, making up 80% of all marine debris. This plastic pollution has far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and the humans that depend on them.
One significant way plastics harm marine life is through ingestion. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals often mistake plastic debris for food. For example, sea turtles mistake plastic bags and other flimsy materials for jellyfish, and studies suggest that up to 50% of sea turtles have ingested plastic, leading to obstruction of their digestive systems and, in some cases, starvation. Similarly, baleen whales have large mouths that unknowingly pick up plastic debris, which can puncture and tear their stomach lining, resulting in starvation and death.
Microplastics, small plastic particles that break down from larger plastic items, are another major source of chemical pollution in the ocean. These microplastics can be ingested by filter-feeding molluscs like mussels and oysters, leading to the accumulation of toxic chemicals in their tissues. A study found that 100% of mussel samples from UK waters contained microplastic pieces. Microplastics can also be ingested by smaller fish and then accumulate in the fatty tissues of larger predators that eat those fish, a process known as biomagnification. This results in a higher concentration of toxins in apex predators like orcas and great white sharks, which can have detrimental effects on their health and the health of their young.
In addition to the direct impacts on marine life, plastic pollution also affects the socio-economic aspects of human societies. It negatively impacts tourism, fishery industries, and human health. Preventing plastic pollution and reducing plastic consumption are crucial to mitigating these far-reaching consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine animals can be harmed by plastic in several ways, including entanglement, ingestion, starvation, injury, suffocation, and toxic contamination. Large items of plastic can entangle marine animals, preventing them from escaping and leading to starvation, injury, or vulnerability to predators. Plastic debris can also smother and damage coral reefs, affecting the entire ecosystem.
Microplastics, due to their small size, are often ingested by marine organisms, including fish, seabirds, and molluscs like mussels and oysters. These microplastics can adsorb toxins, which then accumulate in the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them, leading to toxic contamination. As these contaminated organisms are consumed by predators, the toxins bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, affecting apex predators like orcas and great white sharks.
It is estimated that at least 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, threatening marine ecosystems. Plastic has been found in all of the world's oceans, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch being the largest accumulation. Marine animals, from small finches to blue whales, are ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic, leading to intestinal injuries and death. It is estimated that marine plastics contribute to the death of over 100,000 marine mammals yearly, including endangered species such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles.
