Greta Jimenez
Marine life is facing an escalating crisis due to plastic pollution, with millions of tons of plastic waste entering the ocean each year. The impact of plastic on marine animals is devastating, and it is challenging to estimate the exact number of deaths caused by plastic pollution. However, it is estimated that about 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement annually, and approximately 1 million seabirds perish from plastic ingestion. Plastic pollution affects marine life in several ways, including entanglement, ingestion, and chemical contamination. Sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and coral reefs are among the most vulnerable species. The growing magnitude of plastic pollution in the oceans underscores the urgent need for effective solutions to protect marine life and address this critical environmental issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution per year | 100,000 |
| Number of sea birds killed by plastic pollution per year | 1,000,000 |
| Number of tons of plastic waste entering the ocean per year | 8,000,000-10,000,000 |
| Number of pieces of plastic in every square mile of the ocean | 46,000 |
| Number of pieces of plastic dumped into the ocean per day | 13,000-15,000 |
| Percentage of ocean plastics that come from takeout | 50% |
| Number of marine species impacted by plastic pollution | 267 |
| Percentage of all sea turtle species impacted by plastic pollution | 86% |
| Percentage of all seabird species impacted by plastic pollution | 44% |
| Percentage of all marine mammal species impacted by plastic pollution | 43% |
Explore related products
$170 $49.99
What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Marine life that relies on eyesight can mistake plastic for food. For example, a plastic bag floating in the water can resemble a squid. Even species that do not identify prey by sight are not safe. Toothed whales and many species of dolphin use a sophisticated sonar-type technique called echolocation to find their prey. Some scientists believe that unnatural objects such as plastic waste confuse this sonar and are incorrectly interpreted as food. This may have been the case for a pregnant pygmy sperm whale that stranded on a beach near Melbourne. An autopsy revealed that its stomach was clogged with ingested plastic.
Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. They can choke, sustain internal injuries, or starve by thinking they are full from eating plastic. Plastic ingestion can also affect their reproduction rates by altering the temperatures of the sand where incubation occurs.
Seabirds that feed on the ocean surface are especially prone to ingesting plastic debris that floats. This plastic debris can accumulate pollutants and transport them through ocean currents. Adults feed plastic to their chicks, resulting in detrimental effects on chick growth and survival. One study found that approximately 98% of chicks sampled contained plastic, and the quantity of plastic being ingested was increasing over time.
Microplastics are invisible to the naked eye, making them easy for wildlife to consume. They can also adsorb toxins, which can transfer to the fatty tissues of the organisms that ingest them.
Fish often mistake small plastic pieces, such as pellets, for food. In a study summarising over 100 research papers on plastic ingestion among 500 fish species, over two-thirds had consumed plastic. Fish in the North Pacific ingest 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic each year, which can cause intestinal injury and death and transfer plastic up the food chain to bigger fish, marine mammals, and human seafood eaters.
Stormwater Pollution Prevention: Planning for Cleaner Waterways
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Entanglement in nets
Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, crustaceans, and birds, often become entangled in fishing gear and marine debris as they swim or while on the beach. This includes lost or abandoned fishing gear, as well as other types of ropes, lines, nets, and trash, such as plastic bags, that find their way into the ocean. Entanglement in nets is a significant cause of human-induced mortality in marine animals, particularly smaller species like sea turtles, seals, porpoises, and smaller whales, which may drown immediately if entangled in large or heavy gear.
Large whales may be able to pull gear off the ocean floor, but they are still at risk of exhaustion and infection. Entanglement is a primary cause of human-induced mortality in many whale species, including right whales, humpback whales, and gray whales. The issue of entanglement is not limited to fishing gear; marine animals can also become entangled in other types of marine debris, such as plastic packing bands, balloon strings, and the handles of plastic bags.
A study by the Ocean Conservancy and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that derelict fishing gear posed the greatest entanglement threat to wildlife, followed by plastic bags and balloons. Another study funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program found that 3.3 million blue crabs are killed in derelict crab pots in the Chesapeake Bay, along with more than 40 species of fish that are not the target of the traps. Lost or discarded fishing gear, often referred to as "ghost gear" or "ghost nets," can continue to trap and kill marine animals even after it is no longer in use. This gear can also entangle with other gear, creating larger masses of nets and lines that pose an even greater threat to marine life.
Efforts to address the issue of entanglement in nets include the development of techniques and tools for safely freeing entangled animals, such as the use of small inflatable rescue boats and historic whaling techniques like "kegging." The International Whaling Commission (IWC) launched the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network (GWERN) in 2011 to build safe and effective entanglement response capabilities worldwide. GWERN works in partnership with the Bycatch Mitigation Initiative (BMI) to prevent entanglements from occurring in the first place. Additionally, organizations like World Animal Protection (WAP) are working with governments, businesses, and fishing organizations to reduce the number of ghost nets in the oceans and raise awareness about the issue.
To prevent entanglement in the first place, less-threatening fishing techniques, such as "ropeless trap" technology or excluder devices for crab and lobster pots, can be encouraged. Acoustic deterrents and other strategies have also been applied around installations such as aquaculture farms. Public awareness campaigns can also play a crucial role in promoting safer fishing practices and educating people on how to respond to and report entangled marine animals.
Pollution's Impact: Animals in Danger
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$7.03 $9.99
Chemical contamination
Marine life is facing a grave threat from chemical contamination, a critical aspect of marine pollution. This contamination arises from various sources, including agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial discharge, oil spills, and the improper disposal of household chemicals. The impact of chemical contamination on marine ecosystems is profound and far-reaching.
One significant consequence of chemical contamination is the disruption of reproductive systems in marine animals. For instance, plastic pollution can lead to the release of toxic chemicals, impairing the reproductive abilities of marine species and reducing offspring survival rates. This threat is not limited to marine life; pollutants can accumulate in the food chain, eventually reaching humans. As these chemicals become more concentrated at higher trophic levels, the risk to top predators, including humans, becomes more severe.
Oil spills and discharges are another significant source of chemical contamination. While major oil spills have decreased due to improved technologies and policies, they continue to pose a severe threat to marine life. In addition to the immediate impact on marine organisms, oil spills contribute to long-term pollution. Even after a spill is "cleaned up," residual oil persists in the ocean, endangering marine wildlife and ecosystems.
Agricultural runoff, including pesticides and herbicides, is another major contributor to chemical contamination in marine environments. These toxic chemicals, designed to kill or repel pests, can find their way into freshwater streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean. Once in the marine environment, they can harm a wide range of organisms, including fish and other marine life, with potential repercussions for the entire food chain.
Personal care products, such as sunscreens, also play a role in chemical contamination. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreens, has been linked to negative impacts on coral health and reproduction. Additionally, household cleaning, washing, and polishing products often contain chemicals harmful to marine life, such as sodium hypochlorite, petroleum distillates, and ammonia. These chemicals can enter natural water sources through drains and negatively impact marine environments.
While it is challenging to estimate the exact number of marine animal deaths attributable to chemical contamination, the overall impact is undoubtedly significant. The growing magnitude of chemical pollution in the oceans underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to address this critical environmental issue.
Septic Systems: Creek Pollution and Failure
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Oil spills
During an oil spill, seabirds are often harmed and killed in greater numbers than other creatures. Seabirds are particularly vulnerable to oil spills because oil destroys the water repellency of their feathers, exposing them to harsh elements and leading to hypothermia. In addition, the diminished oxygen transport capacity in the blood is a particular problem for species of birds that obtain their food by pursuing prey underwater. The survival of these birds post-oiling, even with cleaning, may be compromised.
Marine mammals, such as sea otters, are also highly susceptible to oil spills. Oil destroys the insulating ability of their fur, leaving them vulnerable to hypothermia. They are also vulnerable to the toxic effects of ingested oil. Dolphins and whales can inhale oil, which can affect their lungs, immune function, and reproduction.
Other marine life, such as fish, shellfish, and corals, may not be immediately exposed to oil spills, but they can still come into contact with oil if it is mixed into the water column. Shellfish can also be exposed in the intertidal zone. Juvenile sea turtles can become trapped in oil and mistake it for food, leading to ingestion and subsequent health issues.
The impact of oil spills on marine life can vary depending on the type of oil, the location and timing of the spill, and the specific organisms affected. Some oil spills may have short-term acute effects, while others may have long-term impacts on populations and communities.
The Troubling History of Marine Pollution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Transporting invasive species
The transportation of invasive species is a significant contributor to the decline of marine life. Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to marine and coastal biodiversity, second only to habitat loss. They are often transported to new environments through biological and non-biological methods, including vectors and pathways.
Vectors refer to the biological transfer of species, such as an organism carrying a disease and transmitting it to another. Examples of vectors include mosquitoes, ticks, and even humans carrying the flu virus. On the other hand, pathways are non-biological methods of transportation, including winds, hurricanes, ocean currents, and cargo ships. As ships move between ports, they take on or release ballast water to maintain stability, unintentionally transferring invasive species to new locations.
The introduction of invasive species can have detrimental effects on native ecosystems. They can lead to the extinction of native species, destroy biodiversity, and permanently alter habitats. For instance, the European crab, transported as fish bait in ballast water, has established populations on both US coasts and in several other regions. Its presence has cost the American fishing industry millions of dollars. Similarly, a strain of green seaweed, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, has escaped from aquariums and spread widely in the Mediterranean, outcompeting native plants and depriving marine life of essential resources.
In another example, a stingless jellyfish-like creature, known as Caulerpa taxifolia, native to the east coast of North and South America, was unintentionally introduced to the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea through ballast water. It formed dense monocultures, excluding native seaweeds and negatively impacting local fisheries and tourism. Additionally, the intentional or accidental release of aquaculture species, aquarium discards, and excess live bait are common pathways for the introduction of invasive species.
The increase in invasive species is attributed to the growing transportation of goods, people, and human population dynamics. The ornamental trade, facilitated by transportation hubs such as ports, also contributes to the spread of invasive species. These species often pass through open filtration systems, exposing them to globally sourced species with diverse pathogen histories. As a result, the invasive species may develop increased resistance to antibiotics, further enhancing their ability to survive and negatively impact their new environments.
How Pollution Affects Sunsets and Sunrises
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Marine animals can be harmed or killed by plastic pollution in several ways, including entanglement, ingestion, starvation, suffocation, infection, and drowning. Plastic waste can also transport pollutants through ocean currents, which can be absorbed by marine life, contaminating the human food chain.
It is challenging to estimate the exact number of marine animal deaths caused by plastic pollution. However, it is estimated that about 100,000 marine animals die from plastic ingestion or entanglement annually, and approximately 1 million seabirds perish from plastic ingestion.
The primary sources of plastic pollution in the ocean are land-based and ocean-based. Land-based sources include litter, trash, and debris from construction, ports, marinas, and industrial facilities. Ocean-based sources, such as discharges from ships and discarded fishing gear, account for about 20% of plastic pollution in the ocean.
Sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and coral reefs are among the species most vulnerable to plastic pollution. Sea turtles, in particular, often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish and ingest them, leading to blocked digestive systems and starvation.
Addressing plastic pollution requires collective efforts. Individuals can contribute by volunteering for marine conservation organizations, participating in beach clean-up events, properly securing and disposing of garbage, and avoiding littering and releasing balloons. Additionally, education plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution and empowering people to make sustainable choices.
