Brian Barton
Marine mammals, such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles, seals, penguins, and seabirds, are suffering and dying due to plastic pollution in the oceans. While the exact number of deaths is challenging to pinpoint, it is estimated that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals each year, with millions of tons of plastic entering the oceans annually. The primary causes of death are ingestion of plastic, which can lead to physical damage, impaired movement, and digestion issues, and entanglement in plastic debris, including abandoned fishing gear, which can drown the animals. With plastic production increasing, the impact on marine life is devastating, and it is crucial to address this issue through individual actions, community efforts, and global initiatives.
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What You'll Learn
- Sea turtles, dolphins, and whales are among the most vulnerable species
- Plastic ingestion and entanglement are the two primary causes of death
- Plastic production and waste mismanagement contribute to ocean pollution
- Marine mammals are not the only ones affected by plastic pollution
- Efforts to reduce plastic waste and clean up beaches can help mitigate the issue
Sea turtles, dolphins, and whales are among the most vulnerable species
Sea turtles are vulnerable to ocean pollution at every stage of their lives. Toxic metals, PCBs, petroleum products, and agricultural and industrial runoff are among the pollutants that can cause immediate harm to sea turtles or build up in their tissues over time, leading to immunosuppression and death. Sea turtles with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to diseases like FP, which causes cauliflower-shaped tumors on their bodies and internal organs. These tumors can impair their vision, breathing, and feeding abilities, making them more susceptible to predation and collisions with boats.
Dolphins and whales are highly dependent on sound to navigate and find prey in their aquatic environment. Noise pollution from human activities such as underwater seismic surveys, military sonar exercises, and increasing boat traffic interrupts their normal behavior, drives them away from crucial habitats, and can even lead to injuries and deaths. Additionally, dolphins and whales risk ingesting toxic oil from spills, which can contaminate their food sources and enter their blowholes and mouths, causing harm to their health.
The impact of ocean pollution on these species is devastating and far-reaching. While the exact number of sea turtle, dolphin, and whale deaths attributable to ocean pollution each year is challenging to pinpoint, it is clear that their populations are significantly affected by human-caused contaminants in their marine environments.
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Plastic ingestion and entanglement are the two primary causes of death
Marine animals that rely on eyesight may mistake plastic floating in the ocean for prey. For example, a ballooning plastic bag can resemble a squid. For marine animals that use echolocation, like dolphins and whales, plastic can be even more confusing. Their multi-million-year-old sonar system hasn't had time to adjust to plastic, which has only been around for a century.
Marine animals can also become entangled in plastic, especially discarded fishing gear. This entanglement can lead to drowning, as marine mammals cannot breathe underwater. It can also cause physical trauma, infections, starvation, or increased vulnerability to vessel strikes. Common victims of entanglement include dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, whales, and sea lions. It is estimated that entanglement in discarded fishing gear kills around 300,000 cetaceans each year.
Plastic ingestion is another major cause of death among sea mammals. Over half of fish stocks have ingested plastic as of 2018. Ingesting plastic can produce physical changes, impair movement, inhibit digestion, and cause death. It can also cause fish to struggle to grow at typical rates, especially when exposed to warmer water temperatures and BPA.
While the exact number of sea mammal deaths from plastic ingestion and entanglement is unknown, it is estimated that about 100,000 marine animals die from these causes each year. However, this is likely an underestimate, as many more dead animals may be lying at the bottom of the ocean, decomposing and releasing plastic that other animals may then ingest.
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Plastic production and waste mismanagement contribute to ocean pollution
Plastic production and waste mismanagement significantly contribute to the growing crisis of ocean pollution. Plastic is one of the most durable materials ever created, taking hundreds of years to degrade. The consequences of plastic pollution are dire, threatening ocean health, marine species, food safety, human health, and contributing to climate change.
The majority of plastic pollution in the oceans comes from human activities, such as littering, poor waste management, and industrial fishing. Single-use plastic items like food wrappings, plastic bags, bottles, and razors are commonly littered or improperly disposed of, ending up in waterways and oceans. Marine animals often mistake plastic for food, leading to ingestion, entanglement, and fatal internal injuries. Approximately 100,000 marine animals die each year from plastic ingestion or entanglement, with millions of seabirds also falling victim to plastic pollution.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. It causes physical harm to animals, including suffocation, lacerations, and infections. Endangered species like Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles are among the nearly 700 species affected by plastic litter. The presence of plastic in their habitats disrupts their reproduction and endangers their survival.
The plastic production industry is a significant contributor to ocean pollution. In the last decade, more plastic has been produced than in the previous century. The fossil fuel industry plans to increase plastic production by 40% in the next decade, leading to more toxic air pollution and plastic pollution in our oceans. The durability of plastic means that every piece of plastic ever created still exists, with the EPA reporting that plastic pollution is found in all five of the Earth's major ocean gyres.
Waste mismanagement exacerbates the problem of plastic pollution. Without intervention, annual mismanaged plastic waste is predicted to nearly double to 121 million metric tonnes by 2050. This mismanagement leads to plastic ending up in rivers and oceans, contributing to the growing crisis of ocean pollution. Policies and interventions are needed to address plastic production and waste management, including capping new plastic production, promoting recycling, and investing in waste management infrastructure.
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Marine mammals are not the only ones affected by plastic pollution
Marine mammals are highly vulnerable to plastic entanglement, particularly from "ghost fishing gear", which includes discarded fishing ropes, nets, and pots. An estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die annually from entanglement in such gear, which constitutes 640,000 tonnes of the 8 million tonnes of plastic that enters the oceans each year. Marine megafauna are also susceptible to plastic ingestion, as evidenced by the discovery of a whale washed up with 40 kg of plastic in its stomach in 2019.
However, marine mammals are not the only ones affected by plastic pollution. About 1 million seabirds die from plastic annually, mistaking small plastic fragments floating on the water's surface for food. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic, leading to starvation as their stomachs feel full. Plastic pollution also impacts molluscs such as mussels and oysters, which filter seawater for feeding and inadvertently take in microplastics. These microplastics can adsorb up to one million times more toxins than the surrounding water, leading to bioaccumulation in apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas.
The impact of plastic pollution extends beyond marine life, as humans are also affected. Plastics can break down into tiny particles that end up in the seafood we consume, with each person ingesting approximately 40 pounds of plastic during their lifetime. While the full extent of the impact on human health is yet to be determined, it underscores the urgency of addressing plastic pollution.
Additionally, plastic pollution knows no borders and affects marine life worldwide. In Australia alone, 130,000 tonnes of plastic leak into the oceans annually, killing marine mammals, birds, and other creatures. This problem is not limited to Australia, as plastic pollution is a global issue that requires collective action and responsibility.
The consequences of plastic pollution in the ocean are far-reaching and impact a diverse range of species, including marine mammals, seabirds, turtles, molluscs, and even humans. While the exact number of marine mammal deaths due to plastic pollution is challenging to pinpoint, estimates range from 100,000 to millions of marine animals dying annually from ingestion or entanglement in plastic. The situation is dire, and it's important to recognize that marine mammals are not the only victims in this ongoing crisis.
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Efforts to reduce plastic waste and clean up beaches can help mitigate the issue
Ocean plastic pollution is a pressing issue that claims the lives of about 100,000 marine animals each year, with millions more likely going unaccounted for as they decompose at the bottom of the ocean. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that marine animals can mistake plastic for food, get entangled in abandoned fishing lines, or inhale microplastics, leading to fatal consequences. While the impact on sea mammals is the focus of this query, it is important to note that approximately 1 million seabirds also perish from plastic ingestion annually.
To address this crisis, individuals, organizations, and governments are working together to reduce plastic waste and clean up beaches. One crucial aspect is encouraging individuals to recycle single-use plastics and avoid products containing microplastics. Participating in or organizing local beach cleanups is another direct way to mitigate the issue. Various non-profit organizations, such as the Oceanic Society, Plastic Pollution Coalition, and The Ocean Cleanup, are actively involved in developing technologies, conducting research, and organizing global cleanup efforts.
Legislative actions, such as the 2021 Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act in the United States, aim to hold plastic producers and distributors accountable for their products' entire life cycles. International efforts, like the global plastics treaty supported by the United Nations and member states, also demonstrate a collective commitment to tackling this issue.
Businesses are not exempt from responsibility either. Companies like Coke and PepsiCo have acknowledged the issue and are taking steps to improve waste management and redesign their products for more sustainable packaging. WWF's ReSource: Plastic initiative is assisting companies in turning their plastic waste reduction commitments into tangible actions.
While these efforts are making significant strides, it is essential to recognize that individual behavior changes alone are insufficient. A multifaceted approach that combines individual actions, organizational efforts, legislative support, and corporate responsibility is necessary to address the complex problem of ocean plastic pollution effectively.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that 100,000 marine mammals die from plastic pollution each year.
Plastic pollution can be fatal to sea mammals in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement in plastic-based fishing gear. Marine animals that rely on eyesight may mistake plastic for prey, while animals that use echolocation to find prey, such as whales and dolphins, can be confused by plastic waste.
Plastic pollution affects not only individual animals but entire ecosystems. For example, coral reefs are damaged by plastic pollution, which can cause disease and bleaching, impacting the fish and other marine animals that depend on the coral reef as their habitat.
Individuals can make a difference by reducing their plastic consumption, recycling, and disposing of plastic waste responsibly. Participating in beach cleanups and volunteering with organisations working to protect marine life and reduce plastic pollution are also great ways to contribute to global efforts.
The amount of plastic waste in the ocean is growing rapidly, and it is challenging to estimate the exact number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution. Plastic production and demand are increasing worldwide, leading to plastic waste finding its way into our oceans and remote areas like the Arctic. Addressing the plastic pollution crisis requires collective efforts and systemic changes.
