Ocean Pollution's Impact On Animal Life

Marine debris is a persistent problem that affects the entire ocean and Great Lakes. Marine debris, which includes tiny microplastics and derelict fishing gear, harms and kills hundreds of marine species. It also threatens the habitats they depend on and can interfere with navigation safety and human health.

Marine debris comes from people, with the majority of it originating on land and entering the ocean and Great Lakes through littering, poor waste management practices, stormwater discharge, and extreme natural events. Some debris, such as derelict fishing gear, also comes from ocean-based sources.

Every year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean. This pollution comes from sources such as oil spills, runoff, and the accumulation of many dispersed sources, such as fertilizer from our yards.

Marine animals that are affected by ocean pollution include:

- Turtles

- Coral reefs

- Dolphins

- Sharks

- Seabirds

- Whales

- Seals and sea lions

- Fish

Plastic pollution affects almost every species of whale

Whales consume plastic directly through filter feeding, a process where they take large gulps of water and siphon out tiny prey like plankton. They also consume it indirectly through the food chain, when they eat fish and other animals that have already consumed plastics.

Plastic waste in the ocean harms marine life in two ways: through ingestion and entanglement. Globally, more than 240 wildlife species, including whales, are known to have ingested plastic, which can result in internal injuries and death.

Plastic debris is hitting the sperm whale species particularly hard. One stranded whale had ingested 135 items—the highest number recorded for this species. These were predominantly plastic bags, which can look like squid to a whale.

One of the most damaging types of marine plastic pollution is abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear, which makes up about 10% of the world's ocean plastic pollution. Every year, 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises get accidentally entangled in nets and lines and die a slow and painful death through suffocation, starvation, or exhaustion.

Plastic pollution is a global problem that requires a global solution. A global and legally binding United Nations agreement is needed to stop the leakage of plastics into our oceans by 2030.

Sea turtles are harmed by plastic bags, which they mistake for food

Sea turtles have been around for over 100 million years, but plastic is a new and devastating threat to them. They ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food. 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.

Plastic bags are a particular problem, as they can get stuck in a turtle's stomach. Sea turtles can also get entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, which can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, and, in severe cases, cause drowning and death.

Research has shown that more than half of all sea turtles have eaten plastic. A 2015 study estimated that there are more than 15 trillion pieces of plastic trash in the ocean, and this number is growing every year. The problem is that sea turtles don't know what plastic is, and they can't choose what to eat.

The impact of plastic on sea turtles is devastating. It can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, resulting in sickness or even death. Entanglement in plastic waste can also lead to injuries and hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed.

The risks of ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic may be especially significant for young sea turtles, as they spend their early years floating with ocean currents and living in flotsam, such as Sargassum mats (brown algae). Unfortunately, plastic waste is also transported by ocean currents, leading to a convergence that puts young sea turtles at higher risk.

To protect sea turtles from further harm, it is crucial to reduce plastic use and properly dispose of waste. This includes reducing the use of single-use plastics, such as straws, plastic bags, and disposable utensils, disposing of waste in appropriate bins, and picking up any loose plastic waste.

Coral reefs are damaged by oil, trash, fishing nets, and fertilizer

Ocean pollution affects at least 800 species worldwide, and it is estimated that up to 13 million metric tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year. Coral reefs are one of the many ecosystems that are affected by this pollution. They are damaged by oil, trash, fishing nets, and fertilizer.

Oil spills can be detrimental to coral reefs. Oil can reach coral reefs in three major ways: oil floating on the water's surface can be deposited on corals at low tide; rough seas can mix oil into the water column, allowing it to drift down to coral reefs; and heavy oil can become dense enough to sink below the ocean surface and smother corals. Once oil reaches coral reefs, it can impede their reproduction, growth, behaviour, and development.

Trash, such as plastic bags, bottles, and discarded fishing gear, can also damage coral reefs. These items can snag on corals, blocking the sunlight needed for photosynthesis, or entangle and kill reef organisms. Additionally, plastic waste can encourage the growth of pathogens in the ocean. Corals that come into contact with plastic have an 89% chance of contracting diseases, compared to a 4% likelihood for corals that do not.

Fishing nets, in particular, pose a significant threat to coral reefs. Abandoned fishing gear, made of non-biodegradable plastics, can cause tissue loss and fragmentation in reef corals. Nets are the dominant type of lost gear, and they can serve as an artificial substrate for corals. However, they can also damage corals and other reef organisms, and it is recommended that they be removed from reefs.

Fertilizer use also negatively impacts coral reefs. Excess nutrients from agricultural and residential fertilizer use can lead to the growth of algae that blocks sunlight and consumes oxygen needed by corals for respiration. This can result in an imbalance affecting the entire ecosystem. Additionally, excess nutrients can support the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that can be pathogenic to corals.

Seabirds often mistake plastic for food, which can lead to death

The number of birds found to have plastic in their stomachs has increased from 5% in 1960 to 80% in 2010, and it is estimated that 90% of all seabirds alive today have eaten plastic of some kind. This plastic includes bags, bottle caps, and plastic fibres from synthetic clothing, which wash out to sea from urban rivers, sewers, and waste deposits. The birds mistake these items for food or swallow them by accident. The plastic blocks their guts, preventing them from properly digesting food, which causes weight loss and can lead to death.

The threat of plastic to the world's seabirds can be reduced by effective waste management. Simple measures can make a difference, such as improvements in basic waste management, which have been shown to reduce plastic in the environment in a short time.

Seabirds that ingest plastic suffer significant health problems. A study found that young birds with plastic in their stomachs had impaired kidney function and raised cholesterol levels, as well as reduced body mass, wing length, and head and bill length. The presence of plastic impacts the birds' kidney function, causing higher concentrations of uric acid and negatively affecting their cholesterol and enzymes.

In addition to health issues, plastic ingestion also affects the survival of seabirds. Plastic reduces the volume of the stomach, which often leads to starvation. Dead seabirds are often found with stomachs full of plastic waste. Adult birds return to nests with plastic that they have mistaken for food, and the chicks that ingest this plastic are less likely to survive to adulthood. It is estimated that one million birds die each year as a result of plastic ingestion.

The problem of plastic ingestion by seabirds has grown explosively. While less than 5% of birds were found with plastic in their stomachs in the 1960s, it is now estimated that by 2050, 99% of seabird species will be ingesting plastic.

Sharks are threatened by pollution and overfishing

Sharks are among the many species affected by ocean pollution. Plastic pollution, in particular, has become a global crisis, with billions of pounds of plastic in the ocean, accounting for about 40% of the world's ocean surfaces. This plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on marine life, with thousands of animals dying from ingestion or entanglement.

Sharks are also threatened by overfishing. Overfishing is driving over one-third of all sharks and rays towards a global extinction crisis. In fact, overfishing has likely caused the extinction of three types of sharks and rays and has led to the disappearance of many other species from their usual habitats.

Sharks are highly susceptible to ocean pollution, especially from plastic waste. As top predators in marine and freshwater ecosystems, sharks accumulate harmful substances in their bodies faster than they can get rid of them. This problem is compounded when they eat prey that also contain pollutants. These pollutants can then be passed on to humans when they consume shark products.

The combination of overfishing and pollution poses a significant threat to shark populations. With their habitats already degraded by human activities, sharks are struggling to survive in an increasingly toxic marine environment. Urgent action is needed to address these threats and protect shark species from extinction.

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