Sofia Martinez
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that has devastating effects on marine life. Marine animals are threatened by plastic in a variety of ways, from entanglement and injury to ingestion and toxic contamination. Large items of plastic can entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. Discarded fishing nets can also smother and break coral reefs. Smaller plastic fragments can be mistaken for food by seabirds and other marine species, causing suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination. Microplastics, which are tiny particles of broken-down plastic, can be ingested by marine animals and accumulate toxic chemicals, leading to biomagnification in the food chain. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is widespread and deadly, with thousands of marine animals dying each year from the effects of plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine animals affected | Marine mammals, fish, seabirds, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, porpoises, sharks, crabs, coral reefs, finches, humpback dolphins, Hawaiian monk seals, Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, Steller sea lions, seahorses, plankton |
| Impact | Entanglement, injury, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, drowning, toxic contamination, death, vulnerability to predators, infection, intestinal injury, bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals, biomagnification, reduced reproduction rates, growth of pathogens, disease |
| Plastic types | Microplastics, single-use plastic, ghost fishing gear, plastic bags, fishing nets, ropes, pots |
| Plastic volume | 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean each year, 640,000 tonnes of which is ghost fishing equipment; by 2050, plastic is expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion causes starvation and intestinal injury
Marine animals are facing a grave threat from plastic pollution in the oceans. One of the most harmful effects of plastic pollution is ingestion, which can lead to intestinal injury and starvation.
Plastic ingestion causes intestinal injury and internal bleeding in marine animals. The sharp edges of ingested plastic can create cuts in the digestive system, leading to infections and internal bleeding. Large pieces of plastic can also cause intestinal blockages, preventing food from passing through the digestive tract. This leads to starvation, even when the animal's stomach is full.
Plastic debris often floats on the surface of the water, and due to its small size and bright colours, it is often mistaken for food by marine animals. Seabirds, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and many other marine species are known to ingest plastic, believing it to be food. For example, sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their natural prey, and leatherback turtles mistake fishing nets for seaweed.
The ingestion of plastic reduces the storage volume in the stomach, giving a false sense of fullness and leading to malnutrition and starvation. This is further exacerbated by the intestinal blockages caused by larger plastic pieces, which prevent the passage of food through the digestive system.
The consequences of plastic ingestion are dire, and the effects ripple through the entire marine food web. As plastic-filled animals decompose, they release plastic back into the environment, perpetuating a cycle of pollution and harm. The decline in marine animal populations due to plastic ingestion also disrupts ecosystem balance, impairing essential ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling.
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Plastic entanglement leads to drowning and infection
Plastic pollution in the ocean has become a global crisis. Marine animals are swallowing plastic or becoming entangled in it at alarming rates. Plastic entanglement can cause drowning, physical trauma, and infection in marine animals.
Large items of plastic, such as discarded fishing nets, can trap and entangle marine mammals and fish, restricting their movement and making them more vulnerable to predators. Smaller marine animals, like sea turtles, seals, and dolphins, may drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy plastic items. For example, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle drowned after a plastic bag filled with sand wrapped around its neck. Large whales, on the other hand, can usually pull gear or parts of it off the ocean floor and are not typically at immediate risk of drowning. However, they can still face exhaustion and infection.
Entanglement in plastic can also lead to physical trauma and injuries for marine animals. The plastic can cut deep into their skin, leaving them susceptible to deadly infections. In some cases, entanglement may result in amputation or choking.
Marine animals that survive entanglement may still face malnutrition and starvation due to the plastic hindering their ability to feed properly. Additionally, plastic pollution in the ocean can contribute to the death of more than 100,000 marine mammals every year. It is a significant threat to marine life and requires urgent attention to reduce its devastating impact on the environment and wildlife.
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Plastic waste affects coral reefs
Coral reefs are one of the most endangered habitats due to climate change, but not enough attention has been paid to how plastic waste affects them. Plastics are produced massively worldwide and degrade very slowly, breaking down into tiny particles of 5 mm or less, called microplastics. These microplastics have been found to impair coral growth and harm corals by constantly rubbing on them through the action of waves and currents.
Recent studies have found that plastic debris sits atop almost 92% of the reefs they studied, including some of the most remote and uninhabited ones. The amount of plastic debris increased with depth, which researchers found surprising as they would expect deeper reefs to be further from pollution sources. The primary sources of plastic pollution in coral reefs are plastic fishing equipment, such as ropes, long lines, and nets, which get entangled and stuck in the reef.
Plastic debris can smother and kill corals, sponges, and other invertebrates, and it increases the likelihood of a coral getting a disease. It accumulates throughout food chains, damages reef structures, and increases disease transmission. Floating plastics also act as carriers of invasive coral pathogens. As trash builds up, it entangles branching species of hard corals, causing disintegration and abrasion, and diminishing habitat variability. It also deprives corals of light and oxygen exchange, giving pathogens a foothold for invasion and making the reef 20 to 89 times more vulnerable to disease.
To reduce the impact of plastic waste on coral reefs, it is critical to reduce plastic production and plastic waste. This can be done by refusing single-use plastics, such as straws, bags, and takeout cutlery and containers, and by recycling plastics when they are used. Additionally, participating in or organizing cleanups at local beaches or waterways can help prevent plastic particles from reaching the ocean and affecting coral reefs.
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Microplastics are consumed by marine animals
Marine animals are consuming microplastics in a variety of ways, and this is having a detrimental impact on their health and the wider ecosystem. Microplastics are small plastic fragments less than 5mm in length, and they are often consumed by marine animals unintentionally. Marine organisms at the base of the food chain, such as plankton and fish larvae, ingest microplastics, and this has a ripple effect on the entire food chain. As larger marine animals consume these smaller organisms, they too ingest the microplastics, leading to a buildup of plastic in their systems.
One of the primary ways microplastics enter the marine food chain is through the ingestion of plastic by filter-feeding animals, such as oysters and scallops. These animals ingest microplastic particles as they filter seawater, and when they are consumed by larger predators, the plastic is passed on. This process, known as bioaccumulation, results in a concentration of toxins in the fatty tissues of animals higher up the food chain, including apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas.
The presence of microplastics in marine animals can lead to intestinal injuries, inflammation, and even death. It can also reduce their appetite for regular food sources, leading to starvation. Additionally, microplastics can alter the properties of the water, impacting the ocean's natural cooling processes and the carbon cycle.
The impact of microplastics on marine life is a growing area of study, and scientists are working to understand the potential health risks associated with the consumption of microplastics by marine animals. The sheer magnitude of microplastic pollution in the oceans is a significant challenge, and it is imperative to prioritize stopping pollution at its source rather than relying solely on cleanup efforts.
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Plastic affects reproduction rates
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a global crisis. Billions of pounds of plastic are found in swirling convergences that make up about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. The ocean is a vulnerable environment for plastic waste. Once plastic enters the sea, it can be carried by waves and storms to even the most remote areas of the ocean, where it accumulates into large gyres or becomes embedded in shorelines and coastal ecosystems.
Marine animals are affected by plastic in various ways, including entanglement, injury, ingestion, and toxic contamination. Large plastic items can entangle marine mammals and fish, leading to starvation, injury, and vulnerability to predators. Discarded fishing nets can also smother and break coral reefs, disrupting their healthy growth. Small plastic fragments can be mistaken for food by seabirds and other marine species, causing suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination.
Plastic ingestion can reduce stomach volume, leading to starvation. It can also cause intestinal injuries and transfer plastic up the food chain to larger fish, marine mammals, and eventually, human seafood eaters. Research indicates that a significant number of fish sold in markets contain plastic in their guts, mainly in the form of plastic microfibers.
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Frequently asked questions
Marine animals face a variety of dangers from plastic pollution. Large pieces of plastic can entangle marine animals, leading to injury, starvation, and vulnerability to predators. Marine animals also ingest plastic, which can cause intestinal injury, starvation, and death.
Marine animals entangled in plastic are often unable to escape, leading to starvation and increased vulnerability to predators. Entanglement can also directly cause injury and increase the risk of deadly infections. For marine animals that cannot breathe underwater, entanglement often leads to drowning.
Plastic ingestion can reduce the storage volume of the stomach, causing starvation. It can also puncture organs and block digestive tracts. In addition, toxic chemicals can bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals that have ingested contaminated plastic, leading to further health issues.
All species of sea turtles are affected by marine debris, with evidence suggesting that up to 50% of sea turtles have ingested plastic. Endangered wildlife, such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles, are among the nearly 700 species that ingest or become entangled in plastic litter. Large marine mammals, such as whales, are also highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement and ingestion.
Plastic pollution in the ocean can enter the human food chain through seafood that has ingested microplastics. Additionally, the health of coral reefs is crucial for marine life and human life, as reefs provide vital habitats for many marine species and protect coastlines from storms and erosion. Plastic pollution threatens coral reefs by encouraging the growth of pathogens and depriving corals of oxygen.
