Plastic Pollution: Killing Our Seas, What's The Annual Death Toll?

Plastic pollution is wreaking havoc on marine life, killing and crippling animals in the ocean. It is difficult to know the exact number of marine animals that die each year due to plastic pollution, but estimates range from 100,000 to over 1 million. The majority of these are seabirds, with plastic causing starvation and suffocation. Marine mammals are also highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, and ingestion can cause inflammation and poisoning. With plastic production increasing, the problem is growing into a crisis, threatening marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

Marine mammals are killed by ingestion or entanglement in plastic

Marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, particularly from ghost fishing gear. Ghost fishing gear refers to fishing ropes, nets, and pots that have been discarded or abandoned at sea, which can trap and entangle a variety of marine life, from large marine mammals such as blue whales to small crabs. It is estimated that 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from ghost gear entanglement each year.

Marine mammals can become entangled in plastic debris, such as discarded fishing nets, which can restrict their movement, making it difficult for them to escape from predators or access food, leading to starvation. Entanglement can also cause physical injuries, such as deep cuts in their skin, leaving them vulnerable to deadly infections. Additionally, marine mammals that cannot breathe underwater, such as whales and dolphins, can drown if they become entangled and are unable to reach the surface to breathe.

To free entangled marine mammals, organizations like the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources collaborate with partners through the National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. They work to safely disentangle these mammals and gather information to reduce entanglement occurrences in the future. However, the process of freeing entangled animals is dangerous for both the animals and the rescuers, and it should only be performed by trained professionals.

Marine mammals are also at risk of ingesting plastic, mistaking it for food. For example, plastic bags can resemble squid or jellyfish, a staple diet for some marine species. Microplastics, which are invisible to the naked eye, can be easily consumed by marine mammals and can absorb toxins, transferring them to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them. While the long-term impacts of microplastics are yet to be fully understood, their presence in the ocean poses a significant threat to marine mammals.

Seabirds are dying from eating plastic

Seabirds are among the worst affected by plastic pollution in the ocean. They often mistake plastic floating on the ocean's surface for food, and ingest it, leading to severe health issues and even death.

Seabirds have, for millennia, fed off the surface of the ocean, swooping down to scoop up small fish and algae. It is, therefore, no surprise that they are now mistaking small plastic fragments that float on the water's surface for food. The smell of krill feeding on the algae that coats marine plastic debris is similar to natural scents that seabirds follow when hunting for food. This is a particular problem for surface-feeding seabirds like albatrosses, which feed by skimming low over the water and inadvertently consuming plastic.

When ingested, these small pieces of plastic can lead to starvation or suffocation. Some seabirds are able to regurgitate pieces of plastic, but petrels, for example, find this difficult. Northern fulmars are known to ingest plastic pellets, and the species is now monitored as an indicator of pellet pollution levels in the North Sea. Many species of seabird have also been found feeding plastic pieces to their chicks. Plastic debris is said to cause the deaths of more than a million seabirds each year. Dead seabirds are often found with stomachs full of plastic waste.

The presence of plastic in their stomachs impacts the birds' kidney function, causing higher concentrations of uric acid, and negatively impacting their cholesterol and enzymes. It also reduces their body mass, and the length of their wings and bills.

In addition to ingestion, seabirds can also get stuck in plastic waste, and with millions of tonnes of plastic entering the world's oceans every year, this is becoming an increasingly common problem. Abandoned fishing gear, in particular, is one of the worst offenders when it comes to ensnaring marine life.

Plastic waste in oceans is growing into a crisis

The problem is growing into a crisis, with the fossil fuel industry planning to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. These oil giants are rapidly building petrochemical plants across the United States to turn fracked gas into plastic, which will result in more toxic air pollution and plastic in our oceans. It is estimated that there are now 15–51 trillion pieces of plastic in the world's oceans, with billions of pounds of plastic ending up in the oceans every year.

Plastic in the ocean has a direct and deadly effect on marine wildlife. It is estimated that marine plastics contribute to the death of more than 100,000 marine mammals every year, with some estimates reaching over 1 million. Seabirds, sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, and other marine mammals are among the nearly 800 species affected by marine plastic debris. They ingest plastic or get entangled in it, leading to injury, starvation, suffocation, and drowning.

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. Another example is the harbor seal pup found dead on the Scottish island of Skye, with its intestines blocked by a small piece of plastic wrapper. In addition, a recent study found that a quarter of fish at markets in California contained plastic in their guts, mostly in the form of plastic microfibers.

To address this urgent problem, individuals can do their part by reducing plastic consumption, recycling, using reusable alternatives, and participating in beach or community cleanups.

Plastic pollution is affecting marine life reproduction

Plastic pollution is a severe issue in marine ecosystems worldwide. The ocean is particularly vulnerable to plastic waste. Once plastic enters the sea, it can be transported by wind and water currents to even the most remote and deepest parts of the ocean, such as the Mariana Trench. It is estimated that up to 13 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, threatening marine life and ecosystems.

Plastic pollution in the ocean has detrimental effects on marine life, including marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and other species. One of the primary ways plastic harms marine organisms is through ingestion. Marine animals can mistake plastic debris for food, leading to fatal consequences. For example, plastic bags can resemble squid or jellyfish, making them more likely to be consumed by whales, dolphins, or turtles. When ingested, plastic can cause internal injuries, release toxins, and lead to starvation by creating a false sense of fullness. According to a study, approximately 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement annually, with an additional 1 million seabirds suffering the same fate.

Another significant impact of plastic pollution on marine life is entanglement. Large marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises, are at risk of becoming entangled in discarded fishing nets, ropes, and other plastic debris. This entanglement can lead to drowning, injury, and increased vulnerability to predators. It is estimated that 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die from entanglement in ghost gear each year.

The presence of plastic in the ocean also affects the reproduction rates of marine species. For example, plastic pollution on beaches can alter the temperature of the sand, impacting the incubation of sea turtle eggs. Additionally, plastic debris can smother and damage coral reefs, disrupting the healthy growth of these ecosystems, which many marine species depend on for food and habitat.

Furthermore, plastic pollution contributes to the accumulation of toxic chemicals in the marine environment. Plastics can absorb and release toxic substances, such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), metal ions, and antibiotics. These toxins can build up in the fatty tissues of marine organisms, leading to potential reproductive issues, genetic mutations, and growth abnormalities. The impact of these toxins can be amplified through biomagnification as they move up the food chain, affecting apex predators like orcas and great white sharks.

The far-reaching consequences of plastic pollution on marine life reproduction underscore the urgency of addressing this global issue. With plastic's long degradation time, ranging from hundreds to thousands of years, it is essential to focus on prevention, reduction, and effective waste management to protect marine ecosystems and the diverse species that depend on them.

Abandoned fishing gear, or 'ghost gear', is a major cause of entanglement

Plastic waste is devastating marine life. It is estimated that more than 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastic ingestion or entanglement each year. Abandoned fishing gear, or ghost gear, is a major cause of entanglement.

Ghost gear is abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear that continues to entangle marine wildlife. It includes nets, lines, buoys, traps, and other gear that is left in the ocean, often made from plastic. Ghost gear can trap and entangle a wide range of marine animals, from large whales to small crabs and birds. The restricted movement caused by ghost gear can lead to starvation, lacerations, infections, and suffocation in those that need to return to the surface to breathe.

One of the most common types of ghost gear is gillnets, which are suspended in the sea by flotation devices along one edge. These nets can become tangled on rocky reefs or drift in the open sea, where they are difficult to see and avoid. Other types of ghost gear include pots or traps, longlines, and trawls, which can also entangle marine life if lost or discarded.

The impact of ghost gear is not just limited to marine wildlife. It can also have serious economic consequences for fishing communities, who lose expensive gear when it entangles a large animal and is dragged away. Additionally, ghost gear can compete with active fishing gear, reducing the efficiency of fishing operations.

Efforts are being made to address the problem of ghost gear. The Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI) was created by the World Animal Protection in 2015 to give a stronger voice to the issue. Technology systems for marking and tracking fishing gear, such as GPS tracking, are also being trialled to promote greater accountability and transparency. In some cases, abandoned fishing gear is recycled or incinerated to generate electricity.

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