Ethan Clarke
Sea turtles are one of the oldest living creatures on Earth, with origins dating back to when dinosaurs roamed the planet over 100 million years ago. However, their future is now threatened by plastic pollution. Plastic waste in the ocean, which is estimated to be between 5 and 13 million metric tons annually, poses a serious risk to sea turtles, who ingest it or become entangled in it. While the exact number of turtles affected by plastic is unknown, research suggests that even a single piece of ingested plastic can be fatal, and entanglement in discarded fishing gear has been found to cause death in 91% of cases. With plastic production increasing exponentially, it is imperative that action is taken to address this issue and protect sea turtle populations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of plastic bags used worldwide annually | 1 trillion |
| Number of plastic bags used by Americans annually | 380 billion |
| Number of plastic bags used by Australians annually | 130 kg per person |
| Percentage of plastic bags recycled in Australia | 12% |
| Amount of oil needed to produce plastic bags used by Americans annually | 100 million barrels |
| Amount of oil saved by Ireland's plastic bag tax since 2002 | 37 million barrels |
| Amount of plastic waste entering oceans annually | 5-13 million metric tons |
| Number of plastic particles floating on the ocean's surface | 170 trillion |
| Number of plastic items a turtle can ingest before a 50% probability of death | 14 |
| Percentage of marine experts surveyed who had witnessed the death of turtles due to plastics | 84% |
| Percentage of turtles entangled in discarded fishing gear that died | 91% |
| Percentage of female sea turtle hatchlings on the Great Barrier Reef | 99% |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic ingestion is lethal for turtles, with a 50% chance of death after 14 pieces
- Turtles often mistake plastic for food, or eat it alongside their natural food
- Turtles get entangled in plastic, such as six-pack rings, and discarded fishing gear
- Plastic bags, bottles, and balloons are common debris ingested by turtles
- Plastic feminizes sea turtle populations, threatening the survival of the species
Plastic ingestion is lethal for turtles, with a 50% chance of death after 14 pieces
Plastic pollution is a significant threat to sea turtles, impacting them in many ways. Sea turtles come into contact with plastic debris at various stages of their life cycle and in a range of habitats, both near the coast and in the open ocean. Plastic pollution affects sea turtles primarily through ingestion and entanglement.
Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as a plastic bag that resembles a jellyfish, or by accidentally consuming plastic that is present among their natural food, such as a plastic straw. This plastic debris can include items like plastic bags, bottles, balloons, degraded buoys, packaging materials, and food wrappers. Over time, large plastics break down into smaller, more toxic microplastics that are more easily ingested and can be consumed by fish or other animals, which are then eaten by turtles.
The ingestion of plastic has lethal consequences for sea turtles. A study examined 246 turtles and found that 58 (23.6%) had ingested debris, with the count ranging from a single piece to 329 pieces. The probability of mortality increases with the number of plastic items ingested. For a juvenile turtle with a curved carapace length (CCL) of 43.5 cm, the probability of mortality rises to 50% with 17 items in its gastrointestinal tract and reaches certain death at 226 items. Even the ingestion of a single item can be fatal, with a 22% chance of mortality.
The threat of plastic ingestion has been documented in all seven marine turtle species, and it is a particular concern for freshwater turtles as well. The impact of plastic ingestion on young turtles is an area that requires further research, as their developmental habitats are difficult to access. However, it is clear that plastic pollution poses a significant risk to sea turtles, and efforts to address this issue are underway globally through various initiatives and organizations working to reduce plastic pollution and protect turtle habitats.
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Turtles often mistake plastic for food, or eat it alongside their natural food
Plastic pollution is a significant threat to sea turtles, with an estimated 5-13 million metric tons of plastic waste entering our oceans annually. Sea turtles encounter plastic debris at various life stages and in different habitats, both near the coast and in the open ocean. They mistake plastic for food or eat it inadvertently with their natural food, leading to severe health issues and even death.
Sea turtles have been observed ingesting plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish, one of their favourite foods. This confusion arises from the visual similarity between floating plastic bags and jellyfish. Additionally, mylar balloons, which can travel long distances and end up in rivers or the ocean, can also resemble jellyfish to turtles.
Recent studies have revealed another critical factor in turtles' plastic ingestion: scent. Scientists have found that sea turtles are attracted to the odour of ocean-soaked plastics, mistaking it for food. This "olfactory trap" is created when microbes, algae, plants, and small animals colonize plastic debris, emitting food-like odours. The turtles' natural foraging behaviour, which involves using scent to locate food over vast areas, becomes detrimental when they encounter these "scent traps" of plastic debris.
Furthermore, turtles can consume microplastics by eating fish or other animals that have already ingested plastic. These tiny plastic particles, resulting from the breakdown of larger plastics, are easily ingested and can accumulate in the turtles' digestive systems, impairing their ability to absorb and digest nutrients.
The ingestion of plastic has severe consequences for sea turtles. It can lead to partial or complete blockage of their digestive systems, impacting their ability to feed and causing malnutrition. In some cases, ingested plastic can get stuck in their stomachs or wrap around their bodies, leading to death. Researchers have found that ingesting just over a dozen pieces of plastic can be fatal for turtles.
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Turtles get entangled in plastic, such as six-pack rings, and discarded fishing gear
Plastic is a major threat to sea turtles. A 2015 study estimated that there are more than 15 trillion pieces of plastic trash in the ocean, and this number is growing every year. Turtles can ingest plastic, and they can also get entangled in it.
Turtles often get entangled in six-pack rings, fishing gear, and other plastic debris. Six-pack rings, invented in the 1960s, were quickly identified as "a particularly dangerous form of marine litter" in 1970 due to their ability to entangle or strangle marine animals. While six-pack rings in the US are now photodegradable, they still pose a significant threat to marine life. For example, Peanut the freshwater turtle got stuck in a six-pack ring when she was little, and as she grew, the plastic forced her shell to warp. She was rescued, but her organs are underdeveloped, and she will spend the rest of her life in captivity.
Fishing gear also poses a significant threat to turtles. Incidental capture in fishing gear, or "bycatch," is likely the greatest threat to sea turtles worldwide. A 2010 study by Duke University researchers estimated that as many as 1.5 million sea turtles were caught in fisheries around the world over an 18-year period. Trawls, longlines, driftnets, gillnets, and other fishing equipment are all responsible for the death of sea turtles through entanglement.
To address the issue of turtles getting entangled in plastic, organizations like SEE Turtles promote conservation travel and volunteer tours to help save sea turtle hatchlings and get plastic out of their habitats. The Northeast Atlantic Coast Sea Turtle Disentanglement Network (STDN) was also established to reduce injuries and mortalities caused by entanglements in fishing gear and other materials.
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Plastic bags, bottles, and balloons are common debris ingested by turtles
Plastic pollution is a significant threat to sea turtles, with researchers estimating that more than half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic. Common debris ingested by turtles includes plastic bags, bottles, and balloons, which turtles often mistake for food. For instance, turtles may confuse plastic bags and transparent Mylar balloons for jellyfish, leading to blockages in their digestive systems and eventual death. Additionally, latex balloons, while technically biodegradable, take a long time to degrade, while Mylar balloons are made of plastic and do not biodegrade at all.
The ingestion of plastic bags and balloons by sea turtles is a widespread issue, with turtles in various locations, such as Boca Raton, Florida, being observed with plastic bags in the water. The problem is exacerbated by the large amount of plastic waste generated globally. For example, Americans use more than 380 billion plastic bags and wraps each year, contributing to the growing plastic pollution in the oceans. Worldwide, the annual consumption of plastic bags reaches one trillion, requiring about 100 million barrels of oil for production.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is not limited to ingestion. Turtles can also become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, during migration, feeding, or nesting. This entanglement can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim and surface for air, and even result in drowning or death. Young sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to the risks of plastic ingestion and entanglement due to their tendency to float with ocean currents and live in flotsam during their early years.
To address the issue of plastic pollution and its impact on sea turtles, global efforts are being made by organizations, governments, and individuals. Many countries and cities are considering or implementing bans or reduction measures for plastic bags, and public awareness campaigns are being conducted to reduce plastic waste and promote proper waste disposal. Additionally, cleanups are being organized, and novel ways to repurpose plastic waste are being explored. These collective efforts are crucial in mitigating the harmful effects of plastic pollution on sea turtles and other marine life.
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Plastic feminizes sea turtle populations, threatening the survival of the species
Sea turtles, which have survived for over 100 million years, are now facing a new and devastating threat: plastic pollution. Plastics are ingested by sea turtles when they mistake them for prey or when plastic is present among their natural food. For instance, sea turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, or ingest plastic straws while eating their natural food. This ingestion of plastic poses a substantial risk to the survival of sea turtle populations.
Plastic pollution in oceans is a massive problem, with an estimated 5–13 million metric tons of plastic waste entering the oceans each year. This waste tends to accumulate in gyres and along coastlines, creating areas of high plastic concentration. 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.
The ingestion of plastic by sea turtles can lead to blockages and nutritional deficiencies, impacting their health and survival. In addition, the plastic particles ingested by sea turtles can continue to break down into smaller and smaller pieces, compromising the entire food chain. These microplastics can be ingested by smaller creatures, inhibiting their ability to uptake necessary nutrients and leading to potential population decline or extinction.
Furthermore, plastic pollution has been linked to the feminization of sea turtle populations. Studies have shown that contaminants such as heavy metals, cobalt, lead, barium, and cadmium ingested by female green sea turtles may be skewing the sex ratio of their offspring. These contaminants can be maternally offloaded to the eggs, influencing sex determination in the hatchlings. For example, certain populations of green turtle hatchlings on Raine Island off the coast of Australia have experienced up to 99% female hatchlings for the last 20 years.
The feminization of sea turtle populations poses a significant threat to the survival of the species. Sea turtles may take decades to reach sexual maturity, and with a skewed sex ratio, there may be insufficient numbers of hatchlings reaching maturity to maintain stable populations. This, coupled with the other health risks associated with plastic ingestion, underscores the urgent need to address plastic pollution in our oceans to protect sea turtles and other marine life.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution affects sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. They can also get entangled in plastic items such as six-pack rings or discarded fishing gear.
It is difficult to know the exact number of turtles affected by plastic as many dead turtles are never recovered. However, plastic is estimated to pose a serious threat to all sea turtles. Research has found plastic in the intestinal tracts of leatherback marine turtles and young green turtles exposed to plastic in the South Atlantic.
A study found that animals that died of causes unrelated to plastic ingestion had less plastic in their gut than those that died of indeterminate causes or directly from plastic ingestion. The study found a 50% probability of mortality once an animal had 14 pieces of plastic in its gut. Another study found that a turtle had a 22% chance of dying if it ate just one piece of plastic.
Plastic ingestion has been found to have sub-lethal to lethal effects on turtles. Turtles that ingest plastic are at risk of gut impaction and perforation, which can lead to death.
There are many solutions to ocean plastic pollution, and a growing movement of people, organizations, governments, and businesses are taking action to fight plastic pollution worldwide. Individuals can also take action by reducing their plastic consumption, properly disposing of plastic waste, and supporting organizations that work to protect sea turtles and reduce plastic pollution.
