Maya Ellison
Plastic pollution is a global crisis that poses a direct threat to marine life. Plastic waste in the ocean harms a wide range of sea creatures, from large whales and dolphins to tiny seahorses and coral reefs. Marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, and fish are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of plastic pollution, which can lead to entanglement, ingestion, suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination. The accumulation of plastic in the oceans is a growing concern, with billions of pounds of plastic polluting the waters and affecting the health of marine ecosystems. The persistence of plastic in the environment, due to its slow degradation, exacerbates the problem, and the long-term impacts of microplastics on wildlife are yet to be fully understood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marine life affected | Seabirds, sea turtles, seals, whales, dolphins, seahorses, albatross, monk seals, loggerhead sea turtles, fish, marine mammals |
| Impact | Entanglement, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, injury, toxic contamination, death |
| Plastic size | Large items of plastic, microplastics, plastics smaller than 5mm, microscopic particles |
| Plastic quantity | 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic, 40% of the world's ocean surfaces |
| Plastic weight | Expected to outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050 |
| Plastic toxicity | Absorbs toxins, transfers to fatty tissues of organisms, affects oxygen production and reproduction of Prochlorococcus |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion by seabirds
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a rapidly emerging global environmental concern, with high concentrations of up to 580,000 pieces per square kilometre. Plastic pollution in the ocean is driven by exponentially increasing plastic production, with the fossil fuel industry planning to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade.
Seabirds are particularly vulnerable to this type of pollution and are widely observed to ingest floating plastic. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of seabirds ingest plastic each year, with an estimated one million birds dying as a result of plastic ingestion annually. In the 1960s, less than 5% of birds were found with plastic in their stomachs, but by the 2010s, this number had increased to over 80%. It is projected that by 2050, 99% of seabird species will be ingesting plastic.
Seabirds mistake plastic debris for prey, and small plastic fragments can sit on the surface of the water and be mistaken for food. This can lead to issues including suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination over time. Plastic ingestion also affects juveniles that are too young to hunt on their own. Adult birds return to nests with plastic that they have mistaken for food, and the chicks ingest the plastic, reducing the volume of their stomachs and leading to starvation.
The impact of plastic ingestion on seabirds has been observed in albatross colonies on Midway Atoll, one of the oldest atolls in the world, located in the far northern end of the Hawaiian archipelago. Despite being more than 2,000 miles from the nearest continent, Midway Atoll has a severe plastic pollution problem, with more than 100 pounds of plastic washing up every week. Approximately one-third of albatross chicks die every year because of plastic ingestion, as adults mistake brightly coloured plastic pieces for prey, which they then feed to their chicks. The chicks are unable to regurgitate the plastic pieces, and many die as a result.
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Plastic entanglement of marine mammals
Marine mammals are among the many victims of plastic pollution in the ocean. Large items of plastic, such as discarded fishing gear and trash, can entangle marine mammals, restricting their movement and leading to starvation, injury, and increased vulnerability to predators. This problem is not limited to large plastics, as microplastics, or plastics smaller than 5mm, can also cause entanglement and be ingested by marine mammals, resulting in toxic contamination.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine mammals is a global crisis. Research by the American NGO Oceana found nearly 1,800 cases of marine mammals that had swallowed or become entangled in plastic objects off the American coast since 2009. This includes endangered species such as Hawaiian monk seals, Stellar sea lions, and manatees. The problem is not isolated to the United States, as plastic pollution is pervasive in oceans worldwide, affecting marine mammals in various regions.
One of the significant challenges in addressing plastic entanglement of marine mammals is the durability of plastic. Plastic can take hundreds to thousands of years to degrade, and even when it breaks down into smaller pieces, it remains in the ocean, continuing to entangle and harm marine life. The accumulation of plastic in the ocean is expected to increase, with plastic production projected to quadruple in the coming decades.
To combat this issue, efforts are being made to prevent plastic from entering the ocean in the first place. This includes encouraging government policies to reduce single-use plastic production and increase plastic-free alternatives. Community clean-up initiatives and responsible practices when fishing or boating can also help reduce plastic entanglement risks for marine mammals. Additionally, organizations like NOAA Fisheries' Office of Protected Resources work to prevent entanglements and rescue entangled animals, developing specialized tools and techniques to safely free them.
The plastic entanglement of marine mammals is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. By addressing the root causes of plastic pollution and implementing mitigation strategies, we can work towards reducing the harmful impacts of plastic on these majestic creatures.
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Plastic ingestion by sea turtles
Plastic pollution in the ocean has become a global crisis, with a direct and deadly effect on marine wildlife. Sea turtles are among the many species of marine wildlife that are affected by plastic pollution. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic.
Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food (e.g. mistaking a plastic bag for a jellyfish) or by accidentally consuming plastic that is present among their natural food (e.g. eating a plastic straw along with some algae). Sea turtles are also attracted to the smell of marine plastics, likely due to the organisms that latch on to plastic debris in the ocean.
When sea turtles eat plastic, it can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick them into feeling full when they are not, resulting in sickness or even death. A 2015 study found that the ingestion of just 14 pieces of plastic increased the risk of death in sea turtles. Young sea turtles are especially vulnerable to plastic ingestion as they tend to drift with ocean currents, just as plastic does, and are not as selective as adults about what they eat.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is not limited to ingestion. Sea turtles can also become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. This can result in choking, limb loss, and other injuries.
Efforts are being made globally to combat plastic pollution and protect sea turtles. Hundreds of organizations are working to organize cleanups, advocate to governments, create public awareness campaigns, and find novel ways to repurpose plastic waste. Individuals can also play a role in reducing plastic waste by using reusable containers, refusing single-use plastic, and properly disposing of plastic waste.
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Plastic ingestion by whales, dolphins and porpoises
Plastic ingestion is a significant threat to whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These beloved creatures are some of the most adored animals in the ocean, admired for their playful, friendly, intelligent, and social nature. However, plastic pollution poses a severe risk to their health and survival.
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans, are vulnerable to plastic ingestion due to their diverse feeding methods, which range from filtering to hunting. As they feed, they inevitably encounter high amounts of plastic floating in their habitats. While these animals can generally distinguish between plastic and food, plastic can be deceptively appealing or accidentally swallowed. For example, microplastics are easily ingested as whales take huge gulps of seawater during filter feeding. Deep-diving species, such as beaked and sperm whales, are among the most affected, as their feeding areas are highly polluted with plastic wastes.
The impact of plastic ingestion on whales, dolphins, and porpoises can be devastating. Once plastic enters their bodies, it accumulates and creates a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation as the animals no longer feel the need to feed on nutritious food. Plastic can also act as a magnet for toxins, attracting toxic substances to its surface and transferring them to the animal that consumes it. These toxins can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, affecting predator species like dolphins and porpoises more severely than animals lower down the chain. Additionally, plastic ingestion can cause fatal tears and blockages and increase susceptibility to illnesses and diseases.
Research has confirmed the presence of microplastics in the blow (exhalations) of bottlenose dolphins in Florida and Louisiana, indicating that their airways are contaminated. This is particularly concerning as inhaled microplastics can cause tissue damage and inflammation in humans, and similar effects may occur in dolphins. Furthermore, nearly every report since 2013 has found microplastics in deceased whales and dolphins, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue.
The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is a global crisis. An estimated 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with 15-51 trillion pieces of plastic currently clogging our oceans. No square mile of surface ocean is free from plastic pollution. As a result, marine life, including whales, dolphins, and porpoises, is suffering from the deadly consequences of plastic ingestion and entanglement. To address this crisis, some cities and regions have implemented bans on single-use plastics and pledged to produce only completely recyclable materials. It is crucial that we take action to protect these beloved creatures and the ocean they call home.
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Plastic ingestion by fish
Plastic ingestion by marine life is a growing problem. Plastic pollution has pervaded almost every facet of the biosphere, and while it is a threat to all marine life, some species are more susceptible to eating plastic than others.
Research has shown that plastic ingestion by fish is widespread and increasing. A global analysis found 386 marine fish species that have ingested plastic debris, including 210 species of commercial importance. The incidence rate of plastic ingested by fish was 26%, and over the last decade, this has doubled, increasing by 2.4% per year. Fish in heavily polluted East Asian waters, for example, showed the highest levels of plastic ingestion. This is especially concerning as seafood from this region helps feed 2 billion people.
The reasons for plastic ingestion vary among fish species. The foraging strategy of fish was related to plastic ingestion, and fish higher up on the food chain were at the greatest risk. Predatory fish were the most likely to consume plastic. Demersal species are more likely to ingest plastic in shallow waters, while pelagic species were most likely to consume plastic below the mixed layer. Mobile predatory species had the highest likelihood of ingesting plastic.
The problem of plastic ingestion by fish is expected to worsen. With the projected increase in plastic production and disposal in the coming decades, more plastic will end up in the oceans, leading to a higher risk of ingestion by marine life. This is a serious issue that requires urgent attention to protect the health of marine ecosystems and the billions of people who rely on seafood for sustenance and financial security.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic can affect sea life in several ways, from entanglement and injury to ingestion and toxic contamination. Marine species often mistake small plastic fragments floating on the water for food, which can lead to suffocation, starvation, and toxic contamination.
Plastic pollution affects a wide range of sea animals, including seabirds, whales, dolphins, seahorses, fish, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals. Research indicates that half of the sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, and thousands of seabirds are killed each year due to plastic ingestion or entanglement.
Plastic leaks into the ocean from thousands of sources worldwide every day. It is a result of increasing consumption and improper waste management in many countries. Single-use packaging, consumer goods, and microplastic fibers from clothing are significant contributors to plastic pollution in the ocean.
