Ocean Life: Plastic Ingestion Crisis

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue that affects a wide range of marine life, from small finches to blue whales. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, and this figure is predicted to rise to 99% by 2050. Similarly, research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, which can lead to starvation and an increased risk of death. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic annually, causing intestinal injuries and transferring plastic up the food chain. The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the immediate ingestion of plastic, as it also affects the reproduction rates of some species, such as sea turtles, by altering the temperatures of their incubation environments. With an estimated 100,000 marine animal deaths attributed to plastic ingestion or entanglement each year, it is evident that plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the health and survival of ocean animals.

How much plastic do sea turtles ingest?

Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. This plastic takes up room in their stomachs, sometimes causing starvation. A recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre of plastic debris in the north-central Pacific Ocean. It’s the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and human seafood eaters.

Marine animals don’t understand the threats of plastic pollution as we do. It’s estimated that 100,000 of them die from plastic ingestion or entanglement each year. An estimated 640,000 tonnes of the 8 million tonnes of plastic that enters the oceans every year is so-called ghost fishing equipment, gear that’s either deliberately jettisoned or washed from ships or shorelines.

How much plastic do seabirds ingest?

Scientists estimate that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, a figure they predict will rise to 99% by 2050. As with sea turtles, when seabirds ingest plastic, it takes up room in their stomachs, sometimes causing starvation. Many seabirds are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic waste.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a gyre of plastic debris in the north-central Pacific Ocean. It’s the largest accumulation of plastic in the world. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and human seafood eaters.

Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Some starve after doing so, mistakenly believing they have eaten enough because their stomachs are full. On many beaches, plastic pollution is so pervasive that it’s affecting turtles’ reproduction rates by altering the temperatures of the sand where incubation occurs. A recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death. The young are especially at risk because they are not as selective as their elders about what they eat and tend to drift with currents, just as plastic does.

It’s estimated that 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement each year. When whales swallow plastic, it can cause intestinal blockage and starvation.

How much plastic do whales ingest?

Whales are ingesting large quantities of plastic, which is causing them to become stranded and die. In 2019, a sperm whale was found stranded in Indonesia with over 13 pounds of plastic in its stomach, including bags and flip-flops. Another whale found in the Philippines had 88 pounds of plastic in its body, while one found in Spain had 64 pounds of trash in its intestines and stomach.

Whales are particularly vulnerable to ingesting plastic because they are filter feeders, meaning they can end up consuming microplastics (plastic pieces of 5mm or less) along with their prey. Microplastics are also a concern for baleen whales, as these giant creatures can ingest the tiny plastic particles while filter feeding.

The root cause of this issue is the fact that plastic is cheap and easy to produce but almost impossible for nature to destroy. Chunks of plastic can linger in the ocean for decades, breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces. This waste then churns in the ocean in massive gyres, creating a deadly trap for whales and other marine life.

How much plastic do dolphins ingest?

Dolphins are under serious threat from the amount of plastic in our oceans. It is not possible to identify the exact number of dolphins that die annually due to plastic pollution, but research has shown that about 56% of the world's dolphins have consumed plastic.

Dolphins are apex predators, which means they are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution. They can become entangled in plastic or consume plastic objects, which can result in injury or death.

Microplastics, or plastic particles smaller than 5mm in diameter, are especially dangerous to dolphins. These particles are small enough to reach the water column and sediment, where they are eaten by prey organisms, which are then eaten by dolphins. In a study, 10,639 microplastic fibres were detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of 25 marine animals, including dolphins.

Chemicals found in plastics, such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and flame retardants, can dissolve into the surrounding seawater and impact the health of dolphins. These chemicals can cause problems with reproduction, growth, and development, as well as issues with the heart, lungs, and metabolism.

How much plastic do fish ingest?

Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year. This can cause intestinal injury and death, and transfers plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals and human seafood eaters.

It is estimated that 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement each year. Whales, for example, depend on sound to identify their meals. The echo of ocean plastic is very similar to their usual prey, so they swallow kilograms of plastic and eventually die of intestinal blockage and starvation.

Seabirds are also affected by plastic in the ocean. Scientists estimate that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, a figure they predict will rise to 99% by 2050. Many seabirds are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic waste.

Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Some starve after doing so, mistakenly believing they have eaten enough because their stomachs are full. A recent study found that sea turtles that ingest just 14 pieces of plastic have an increased risk of death.

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