Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution poses a serious threat to sea turtles. It affects sea turtles at every stage of their life cycle and in a range of habitats, from the moment they hatch on beaches covered in plastic to their time in the open ocean. Sea turtles ingest plastic by mistaking it for food, such as jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. Plastic ingestion can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, resulting in starvation. Sea turtles also risk entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, which can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, and cause drowning. With an estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, plastic pollution is having a devastating impact on sea turtle populations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic ingestion | Mistaking plastic for food, such as jellyfish, seaweed, or other natural food sources. |
| Plastic causing blockages in the intestines, internal bleeding, and a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation | |
| Microplastics consumed by fish or other animals can enter the food chain and be ingested by turtles. | |
| Plastic bags, bottles, balloons, and other debris can trap gases in turtles' digestive systems, causing buoyancy disorders ("bubble butts") and making them vulnerable to predators. | |
| Entanglement | Turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear ("ghost nets"), while migrating, feeding, or nesting. |
| Entanglement can lead to injuries, choking, limb loss, drowning, and death. | |
| Young sea turtles are at higher risk due to their developmental habitats and early life stages in flotsam and ocean currents. | |
| Environmental impact | Plastic waste transported by ocean currents and accumulating in gyres contributes to marine debris and pollution. |
| Climate change, influenced by plastic production, shipping, and disposal, exacerbates the feminization of sea turtle populations. | |
| Toxic additives in plastic are distributed into the water and enter the food chain. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic ingestion during their early life stages. As young turtles float with ocean currents and feed on other organisms, they are at a higher risk of ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. This early exposure to plastic pollution can have detrimental effects on their development and survival.
The problem of plastic ingestion is not limited to visible plastic debris. Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that have degraded over time, are also ingested by sea turtles. These microplastics can enter the ocean through various sources, such as cosmetics, clothing, and the fragmentation of larger plastic pieces. They are easily ingested by turtles and can carry invasive species, further exacerbating the damage caused by plastics.
Additionally, plastics contain a mixture of chemicals, many of which are known to be hazardous to sea turtles and other animals. For example, heavy metals and bisphenols (like BPA) in plastics have been linked to hormone-disrupting effects, leading to the feminization of sea turtle populations. These chemicals also contribute to the development of harmful tumors in sea turtles.
The impact of plastic ingestion on sea turtles underscores the importance of reducing plastic waste and properly disposing of it. By taking action in our daily lives, such as investing in reusable containers and refusing single-use plastics, we can help protect sea turtles and other marine life from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
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Entanglement in plastic
The risks of entanglement in plastic pollution are not limited to young sea turtles, however. All species of sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, with Olive Ridley turtles being the most likely species to get tangled up due to their foraging habits and attraction to feeding on marine rubbish. Large leatherback sea turtles, which can measure more than six feet long and weigh a ton, have been disentangled using boat-based techniques that rely on historic whaling techniques called "kegging".
The impact of entanglement in plastic on sea turtles is severe and can be life-threatening. Scientists estimate that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, which is an average of more than one turtle every nine hours. This figure is likely a gross underestimation as not all dead turtles strand on beaches, especially young animals, and some decay at sea. Additionally, not all stranded turtles are found, and some are removed by local people to eat.
The convergence of plastic waste and ocean currents puts sea turtles at higher risk of entanglement. As plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, young sea turtles are more likely to come into contact with and become entangled in plastic. This creates an "ecological trap" where juvenile turtles ride on ocean currents into zones with concentrated floating rubbish and debris.
Efforts to address the issue of entanglement in plastic among sea turtles are ongoing. The NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources coordinates sea turtle disentanglement efforts in the United States through the National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program and federal permitting. Trained professionals work to safely free sea turtles from life-threatening entanglements and gather information to reduce the frequency and effects of entanglements.
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Hormone disruption
Sea turtles are among the oldest living creatures on Earth, with origins dating back at least 110 million years. However, plastic pollution now threatens their future. At least 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, and this number is expected to triple by 2040.
Plastics contain at least 16,000 chemicals, including about 4,200 known hazardous substances, such as bisphenols (BPA), dioxins, flame retardants, PFAS, and heavy metals. These chemicals have been linked to hormone-disrupting effects in sea turtles, feminizing their populations.
BPA, for instance, can have feminizing effects on turtles and cause infertility. Additionally, microplastics can raise the temperature of the sand on beaches, further contributing to the feminization of sea turtle hatchlings. On the Great Barrier Reef, 99% of sea turtle hatchlings are now born female, and experts warn of the eventual total feminization of the species, posing a significant survival risk.
Research on other animals, such as seabirds, has provided further insight into the hormone-disrupting effects of plastic chemicals. Studies have shown that plastic ingested by seabirds can leach chemicals that interfere with their hormones, impairing fertility, development, and behavior. These chemicals interact with key hormone receptors in the body, activating or blocking them and leading to endocrine disruption.
While there is ongoing research into the specific mechanisms, the evidence suggests that plastic ingestion can have hidden biological effects on sea turtles and other wildlife, disrupting their hormonal activity and impairing their reproduction and survival.
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Environmental damage
Plastic pollution is a major threat to sea turtles, affecting them at every stage of their life. It is a significant contributor to the decline in sea turtle populations.
Sea turtles often mistake plastic for food, such as plastic bags resembling jellyfish, or fishing nets looking like seaweed. This leads to blockages in their intestines, internal bleeding, and a false sense of fullness, causing them to starve. The ingestion of microplastics is also harmful, as they can be consumed by fish and then eaten by turtles, entering the food chain.
Entanglement in plastic debris is another serious issue. Turtles can get entangled while migrating, feeding, or nesting, leading to injuries, drowning, and death. "Ghost nets" or "ghost gear", discarded fishing nets, pose a significant threat. The risk is especially high for young turtles, as they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living in flotsam and feeding on other organisms in the currents.
Furthermore, plastic pollution affects the gender ratio of sea turtles. Microplastics raise the temperature of the sand on beaches, and coupled with climate change, this leads to feminization of turtle populations. The sex of a sea turtle is determined by the temperature of the sand surrounding its egg, with warmer temperatures resulting in female hatchlings.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond sea turtles, with over 100 million marine animals dying each year due to marine debris. The issue is not limited to the ocean; plastic waste can enter waterways and oceans from landfills, rivers, and urban sources, affecting a range of ecosystems and wildlife.
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Plastic production's climate impact
Plastic production has a significant climate impact on sea turtles. As plastic breaks down into microplastics, it lasts in the environment indefinitely, with microplastics polluting every layer of the ocean. Sea turtles ingest these microplastics, which can cause blockages in their intestines and even pierce their intestinal walls, leading to internal bleeding and death. The ingestion of plastics also affects sea turtle reproduction rates by altering the temperature of the sand where incubation occurs, leading to an increased number of female hatchlings.
Plastic waste in the ocean, originating largely from landfills and other urban sources, is transported by ocean currents, leading to an increased risk of ingestion or entanglement by young sea turtles. This plastic waste accumulates in gyres, areas of slow-spiraling water and low winds, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the North Pacific Gyre being a notable example. The convergence of plastic waste and young sea turtles in these areas puts them at significant risk.
The production, shipping, and disposal of plastic contribute to climate change, exacerbating the impact on sea turtle populations. The increasing global temperatures, combined with the presence of microplastics in the sand, contribute to the feminization of sea turtle populations. On the Great Barrier Reef, 99% of sea turtle hatchlings are now being born female, raising survival risks for the species.
The growing movement of people, organizations, governments, and businesses taking action to fight plastic pollution provides hope for mitigating the climate impact of plastic production on sea turtles. Efforts include organizing cleanups, advocating for systemic change, conducting research, and rehabilitating injured turtles. Individuals can also make a difference by reducing their use of single-use plastics, properly disposing of waste, and supporting initiatives like Plastic Free July.
While plastic production has a detrimental climate impact on sea turtles, collective efforts to address this issue provide a path toward protecting these ancient mariners and ensuring their survival for future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is causing serious harm to sea turtles, threatening their survival.
Plastic threatens the survival of sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement.
Sea turtles often mistake plastic for their staple foods, such as jellyfish. Once ingested, plastic can cause blockages in their intestines, pierce their intestinal walls, or create a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation.
Sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear or "ghost nets," during migration, feeding, or nesting. Entanglement can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim and surface for air, and, in severe cases, result in drowning or death.
Plastic pollution affects sea turtles at various life stages and habitats. As hatchlings, they may crawl through plastic debris on their way to the ocean, and as adults, they may become entangled in plastic while nesting. The ingestion of microplastics by adult turtles can also impact the gender ratio of hatchlings, leading to a feminization of populations.
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