Brian Barton
Marine animals are dying due to pollution, and the problem is only getting worse. Plastic waste, in particular, is a critical environmental issue, with millions of tons entering the ocean each year. This waste includes plastic bags, fishing nets, ropes, and microplastics, all of which can lead to ingestion or entanglement, resulting in injury or death. While it is challenging to determine the exact number of marine animal deaths caused by plastic pollution, estimates range from 100,000 to over 1 million annually. Sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and coral reefs are among the most vulnerable species. With plastic production increasing exponentially, the magnitude of this issue will only grow, underscoring the urgent need for effective solutions to protect marine life and our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Estimated number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution each year | 100,000-1,000,000 |
| Number of marine mammals killed by plastic pollution each year | 100,000 |
| Number of whales, dolphins and porpoises killed by ghost gear entanglement each year | 300,000 |
| Number of sea turtles affected by plastic pollution | All 7 species |
| Percentage of whale, dolphin and porpoise species that have consumed plastic | 56% |
| Percentage of ocean plastics that come from takeout | 50% |
| Year by which there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish | 2050 |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Marine animals are unable to distinguish plastic from their natural food sources. This is particularly true for organisms that rely on filter feeding, such as plankton, shellfish, and baleen whales. As a result, they inadvertently consume plastic particles. Even species that do not identify prey by sight, like toothed whales and many dolphin species, are not safe. They use echolocation to find their prey, but plastic bags filled with water can appear similar to prey.
A study by the World Wildlife Fund estimated that at least 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year. This number is likely an underestimate, as it only accounts for a few species. It is difficult to estimate the true number of deaths caused by plastic ingestion, as the majority of marine animal deaths are unobserved. However, it is clear that the impact of plastic ingestion on marine wildlife is significant and harmful.
Marine apex predators, such as great white sharks and orcas, are particularly vulnerable to the cumulative impact of microplastics in the food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics. This process, known as biomagnification, occurs when chemicals build up in the fatty tissues of animals that have consumed contaminated species.
In addition to the direct harm caused by plastic ingestion, marine animals also face the threat of entanglement in plastic debris, which can lead to injuries, suffocation, and drowning. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating, and it is crucial to address this issue through individual and community efforts to protect marine wildlife and their habitats.
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Entanglement in plastic
Marine animals are facing a grave threat from plastic pollution, which is wreaking havoc on their underwater ecosystems. One of the main dangers is entanglement in plastic, which can lead to drowning, starvation, injury and increased vulnerability to predators. Large items of plastic, such as discarded fishing nets, ropes and pots, can entangle marine mammals and fish, restricting their movement and ability to escape. Smaller animals, like sea turtles, seals, and dolphins, may drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy plastic items. Larger whales, while not at immediate risk of drowning, can suffer from exhaustion and infection.
Fishing gear, or "ghost gear", that has been carelessly discarded or abandoned, poses a particular threat to marine life. Ghost gear can entangle and trap various marine species, from large whales to small crabs. It is estimated that 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die each year from entanglement in ghost gear. The impact of plastic pollution on marine megafauna is evident, with whales and dolphins washing up on beaches with large amounts of plastic in their stomachs, leading to fatal inflammation.
Sea turtles are also highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, often mistaking plastic bags for their staple food, jellyfish. When turtles eat plastic, it can create a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation. In one case, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle was found entangled in a plastic bag filled with sand, which had wrapped around its neck, leading to drowning or suffocation.
The durability of plastic, which takes hundreds to thousands of years to degrade, means that plastic pollution will continue to endanger marine life for the foreseeable future. The problem is exacerbated by the ever-increasing production and use of plastic, with the US being the largest generator of plastic waste globally. To protect marine animals from entanglement and other plastic-related dangers, it is imperative that we reduce our plastic consumption and dispose of plastic waste properly.
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Chemical contamination
Marine animals are facing a grave threat from chemical contamination due to plastic pollution. The durability of plastic, which is one of its most desirable properties, is also the reason for its devastating impact on the environment. Plastic takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to degrade, and in this time, it can pollute and poison environments and the animals that inhabit them.
Plastic breaks down into microplastics and nanoplastics, which are tiny plastic particles that have been found to contaminate marine ecosystems and the food chain. A recent study showed that a single plastic particle can adsorb up to one million times more toxic chemicals than the water around it. These toxins bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of animals that consume contaminated species, leading to biomagnification as they move up the food chain.
Molluscs, such as mussels and oysters, filter seawater to feed and inadvertently take in microplastics and the toxins attached to them. A study of mussels from UK waters found that 100% of the samples contained microplastic pieces. Marine apex predators, such as great white sharks and orcas, are at a high risk of consuming microplastics and experiencing the toxic effects of bioaccumulation.
The ingestion of plastics and the toxins they carry has disruptive and poisonous effects on marine wildlife. It causes internal deterioration, impairs movement, inhibits digestion, and can lead to death. A study by the World Wildlife Fund estimated that at least 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution each year, although the true number is likely much higher as the majority of deaths go unobserved.
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Microplastics in the food chain
Marine animals die due to pollution from plastic, which can take hundreds to thousands of years to degrade. Plastic pollution in the ocean has increased over the years, with plastic waste ending up in the aquatic environment directly or from landfills, carried by the wind into rivers, and then into the seas.
Microplastics are plastic particles under five millimetres in length. They can be manufactured intentionally, such as the microbeads found in cosmetics, or they can form from the breakdown of larger plastic items through environmental exposure. Microplastics have now been detected in the human and animal food chain, in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They have been found in seafood, mussels, honey, tea, sugar, fruit, and vegetables.
The ingestion of microplastics by humans can occur through food, water, and inhalation of indoor and outdoor air. The health consequences of microplastics are still being studied, but they are believed to cause gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory problems, cancer, infertility, and alteration in chromosomes.
Microplastics can also affect marine life, with molluscs such as mussels and oysters ingesting them while filtering seawater. A study of mussels from UK waters found that 100% of the samples contained microplastic pieces. Marine apex predators, such as great white sharks and orcas, are also at risk from the cumulative impact of microplastics in the food chain and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics.
The presence of microplastics in the food chain is a growing concern, and it requires urgent action from businesses, governments, and civil society to address this issue and maintain the health of the population.
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Abandoned fishing gear
Marine animals are killed by plastic in the ocean, with an estimated 100,000 marine animals killed by ingestion or entanglement each year. This figure is likely an underestimate, as many animals that decompose at the bottom of the ocean will release plastic for other animals to encounter.
Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a major contributor to ocean pollution, with extensive environmental, social, and economic impacts. Nearly 2% of all fishing gear is lost to the ocean annually, including thousands of kilometres of nets and longlines, and millions of pots and traps.
ALDFG is particularly harmful as it is designed to catch and kill marine life. It can entangle marine animals, leading to injury, starvation, and vulnerability to predators. It can also smother and break coral reefs, preventing their healthy growth. Lost fishing gear can impact wildlife, marine and coastal habitats, and food security.
Ghost nets, a type of ALDFG, are left in the ocean and become death traps for marine animals. They can wrap around an animal's body, preventing it from returning to the surface to breathe, leading to drowning. A single abandoned net is estimated to kill an average of 500,000 marine invertebrates, 1,700 fish, and four seabirds. Over time, these nets break down into microplastics, which enter the ocean food chain and release toxic chemicals.
Efforts are being made to reduce the number of ghost nets in the oceans, with organisations like World Animal Protection (WAP) working with governments, businesses, and fishing organisations. It is important to address the issue of ALDFG to protect marine life and ecosystems from the harmful effects of plastic pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to know the exact number of marine animals that die each year due to pollution as many deaths go unrecorded or unobserved. However, it is estimated that plastic pollution kills over 100,000 marine mammals every year. This number is likely an underestimate as it only accounts for a few species.
Plastic pollution can kill marine animals in several ways. One of the primary ways is through ingestion, where marine animals mistake plastic for food. This can lead to starvation as the plastic blocks their digestive systems, or it can cause toxic contamination. Another way plastic pollution kills marine animals is through entanglement, where they become trapped and unable to escape, leading to starvation, injury, or drowning.
Sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and coral reefs are among the species most vulnerable to plastic pollution. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, their favourite food. Whales and dolphins are at risk of entanglement in plastic debris, including abandoned fishing gear, also known as "ghost gear".
