The Deadly Impact Of Plastic On Marine Life

Plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue that poses a direct threat to marine life. While the exact number of sea animals that die from plastic each year is unknown, estimates range from 100,000 to over a million. These deaths occur through ingestion of plastic, which can cause intestinal injuries and starvation, or entanglement in plastic debris, such as abandoned fishing gear. The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the animals that die, as it also affects the health and reproductive capabilities of those who survive. With an estimated 8 to 10 million tons of plastic entering the ocean annually and the durability of plastic allowing it to persist for hundreds to thousands of years, the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue that requires urgent collective action.

Plastic ingestion kills sea animals

Plastic is often ingested by marine animals because it resembles food. For example, plastic bags can look like squid or jellyfish, and abandoned fishing nets can resemble delicious seaweed. Even species that do not rely on eyesight to find prey are vulnerable. Toothed whales and many species of dolphins use echolocation to hunt, and some scientists believe that unnatural objects such as plastic waste confuse this sonar and are incorrectly interpreted as food.

Once ingested, plastic causes intestinal injury and death. It can also produce physical changes, impair movement, and inhibit digestion. For example, in 2018, a juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain with 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract. The cause of death was inflammation caused by the various toxins coating the plastic. Similarly, sea turtles can mistake plastic for food and choke, sustain internal injuries, or starve by thinking they are full from eating plastic.

The impact of plastic ingestion on marine life is far-reaching. It affects the oceanic ecosystem and human health, as hundreds of fish species consumed by people have been found with traces of microplastics in their bodies. Urgent collective action is needed to address this crisis and protect marine life.

Plastic entanglement kills sea animals

Plastic entanglement is a significant cause of death for marine animals. It is estimated that more than 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement each year, with an additional 1 million seabirds dying from plastic annually. These numbers are likely underestimates, as many affected animals are never reported.

Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and seals, are particularly vulnerable to plastic entanglement. Abandoned fishing gear, also known as "ghost gear," is a major source of entanglement for these creatures. Nets, ropes, and pots made from plastic can trap and entangle marine mammals, often leading to drowning or injury. In some cases, entanglement can also cause suffocation, physical trauma, or amputation, leaving animals vulnerable to deadly infections.

Large marine mammals, such as blue whales, are at risk of entanglement from ghost fishing gear. However, even smaller creatures, such as crabs, can fall victim to plastic entanglement. All seven species of sea turtles are also affected by plastic entanglement, often from six-pack rings that get caught around their shells and necks.

The problem of plastic entanglement is not limited to marine animals and birds. Rare species, such as the humpback dolphin found in Australian and New Guinean waters, have been observed with plastic tightly wrapped around their bodies. This plastic can cut deep into their skin, leading to a risk of deadly infections.

The impact of plastic on marine life is devastating and widespread. While it is difficult to know the exact number of animals affected, it is clear that plastic entanglement is a significant threat to marine life. The problem was created by humans, and it is up to us to find solutions and prevent further harm to these vulnerable creatures.

Plastic pollution affects the entire food chain

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects the entire food chain, from marine life to humans. It is estimated that plastic contributes to the death of over 100,000 marine mammals and approximately 1 million seabirds annually. Marine animals can become entangled in plastic debris, such as abandoned fishing gear, or ingest plastic, mistaking it for prey. This leads to injuries, inflammation, and toxic contamination.

Large marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and sea turtles, are particularly vulnerable to plastic entanglement and ingestion. Fishing ropes, nets, and pots made from plastic can trap and entangle these animals, sometimes leading to drowning. Additionally, marine mammals may mistake plastic for prey, as it can resemble their food or confuse their sonar systems. For example, turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their staple diet, and fishing nets for seaweed.

Plastic pollution also affects seabirds, which feed from the ocean's surface. They mistake small plastic fragments for food, leading to starvation or suffocation. Some species, like petrels, have difficulty regurgitating plastic. Furthermore, hundreds of fish species, including those consumed by humans, have been found with traces of microplastics, affecting the food we eat.

The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the ocean. Microplastics, or plastic pieces smaller than 5mm, can be found in soil, vegetation, and even microorganisms. Land birds that eat worms can ingest microplastics that the worms have absorbed from the soil. These microplastics can act as carriers for toxic chemicals, which can be transferred to animal tissues and impair key body functions.

The far-reaching consequences of plastic pollution highlight the urgent need for action. Reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic, as well as supporting initiatives like CleanSeas, are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of plastic pollution on the entire food chain.

Plastic waste is often mistaken for prey

For example, a plastic bag floating in the water can resemble a squid or other prey for seals and marine mammals. This visual similarity can lead to fatal consequences when these animals ingest the plastic, causing internal injuries or starvation. Similarly, a ballooning plastic bag can appear like a squid on a seal's sonar system. Species such as toothed whales and dolphins use echolocation to navigate and find prey. The sonar system, which has been developed over millions of years, has not had time to adapt to the relatively new presence of plastic in the ocean. As a result, they may mistakenly interpret plastic waste as prey, with tragic outcomes.

The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond the immediate ingestion of plastic. Once ingested, plastic can cause physical harm to marine animals, impairing their movement and inhibiting their digestion. It can also lead to toxic contamination, as the plastic is often coated in harmful substances. Furthermore, plastic waste can entangle marine animals, restricting their movement and leading to suffocation or the inability to access essential resources.

The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is a pressing issue. While it is challenging to determine the exact number, it is estimated that over 100,000 marine animals die each year due to plastic pollution, with seabirds accounting for a significant proportion of these deaths. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is widespread, affecting a diverse range of species, from seabirds to whales, turtles, and microscopic organisms. It is crucial to address this issue urgently and take collective action to protect marine ecosystems and the animals that inhabit them.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis

The ocean is inundated with plastic pollution, and it is having a direct and deadly effect on wildlife. Thousands of seabirds and sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals are killed each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. Endangered wildlife like Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles are among nearly 700 species that eat and get caught in plastic litter. It is estimated that marine plastics contribute to the death of more than 100,000 marine mammals every year. This includes large marine mammals that are highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, especially in ghost fishing gear, which accounts for about 20% of all marine plastic. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises a year die from ghost gear entanglement.

The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond entanglement, as marine debris can also cause injury and infection. Marine mammals do not understand the dangers that plastic poses to them, and their multi-million-year-old sonar systems have not had time to adjust to this century-old concept. As a result, they often mistake plastic for prey, leading to fatal consequences. For example, in 2018, a juvenile sperm whale was found dead on a beach in Spain with 30 kilograms of plastic in its digestive tract. Similarly, turtles often mistake plastic for food, choking or sustaining internal injuries that can be fatal.

The problem of plastic pollution is growing, with billions of pounds of plastic ending up in the world's oceans each year. The fossil fuel industry plans to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade, leading to more toxic air pollution and plastic in our oceans. Urgent action is needed to address this global crisis and protect the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the diverse array of life they sustain.

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