Helena Joyce
Sea turtles have existed for over 100 million years, but plastic pollution now poses a grave threat to their survival. The ingestion of plastics and entanglement in plastic waste are the two primary ways that plastic pollution affects sea turtles. It is estimated that more than half of all sea turtles have eaten plastic, and researchers have found that ingesting just one piece of plastic increases a turtle's chances of dying by 22%. Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention, and it is essential that we take action to protect sea turtles and other vulnerable marine species from the detrimental impacts of plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sea turtles that die from ingesting plastic | 1,000 per year |
| Number of sea turtles that die from entanglement in plastic | 1,000 per year |
| Chance of a turtle dying from ingesting one plastic item | 22% |
| Chance of a turtle dying from ingesting 14 plastic items | 50% |
| Number of sea turtles that have eaten plastic | 52% of the global population |
| Number of sea turtles killed by ingesting plastic and other forms of debris | Over 1 million per year |
| Percentage of all sea turtle deaths caused by ingesting plastic and other forms of debris | 10% |
| Amount of plastic waste that enters the oceans annually | 5-13 million metric tons |
| Amount of plastic used by Australians annually | 130kg |
| Percentage of plastic used by Australians that is recycled | 12% |
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What You'll Learn
How plastic ingestion kills sea turtles
Sea turtles are highly vulnerable to plastic pollution, and ingestion of plastic can prove fatal in several ways. Firstly, plastic can cause blockages in their intestines, leading to malnutrition and even death. The ingested plastic can also physically damage the intestines, causing internal bleeding. In some cases, the plastic may puncture the gut or soft plastic can clog the gut, resulting in the death of the turtle.
Another concerning consequence of plastic ingestion is the false sensation of fullness in turtles. When plastic accumulates in a turtle's stomach, they may neglect to seek out other food sources, ultimately leading to starvation. This is particularly distressing as the turtle may appear healthy, but slowly starves to death.
The risk of plastic ingestion is heightened by the fact that sea turtles can mistake plastic for their natural food. For example, they may confuse plastic bags with jellyfish or consume plastic straws along with crustaceans on the seafloor. Additionally, research has found that sea turtles are attracted to the smell of marine plastics, likely due to the organisms that attach themselves to the plastic debris.
Young sea turtles are especially susceptible to the dangers of plastic ingestion. During their early years, they float with ocean currents and live among flotsam, increasing their exposure to plastic pollution. While the full extent of the impact is not yet known due to the difficulty in accessing their developmental habitats, it is clear that plastic ingestion poses a significant threat to their survival.
It is estimated that more than half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic, and this is contributing to the decline in their populations. With approximately 1,000 sea turtles dying each year from plastic entanglement alone, the combined impact of ingestion and entanglement is devastating for these ancient mariners.
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How sea turtles get entangled in plastic
Sea turtles are affected by plastic pollution at every stage of their life. They encounter plastic on their way to the ocean as hatchlings, swim through it while migrating, mistake it for jellyfish (one of their favourite foods), and then crawl back through it as adults.
Sea turtles can become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, also known as "ghost nets" or "ghost gear", or other debris, while they are migrating, feeding, or nesting. Entanglement can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and, in severe cases, cause drowning and death.
Young sea turtles are at a particularly high risk of entanglement. This is because they spend their early years floating with ocean currents, living in flotsam, such as Sargassum mats (brown algae), and eating other organisms that float with the currents. Plastic waste transported by ocean currents puts them at a higher risk of entanglement.
Research by the University of Exeter in England found that 91% of turtles entangled in discarded fishing gear died. Out of the 106 marine experts surveyed, 84% claimed they had directly witnessed the death of turtles due to plastics.
Entanglement in plastic can cause sea turtles to choke to death, lose limbs, and suffer other injuries, sometimes beyond repair. Once entangled and weighed down, turtles are unable to surface and subsequently drown.
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How much plastic is entering our oceans
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a massive problem that affects sea turtles and many other marine species. While it is challenging to determine the exact amount of plastic entering our oceans, it is estimated that between 5 and 13 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually. This is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. The amount of plastic entering the ocean each year may be as low as 1 million tons or as high as 8 million tons, according to various sources and estimates.
Plastic pollution in the ocean has devastating consequences for sea turtles, which have existed for over 100 million years. The ingestion of plastic by sea turtles can lead to physical damage to their intestines, blockages, and a false sense of fullness, resulting in malnutrition and death. Additionally, young sea turtles are at a higher risk of ingesting plastic due to their developmental habitats and the convergence of ocean currents.
Sea turtles also face the threat of entanglement in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear and other debris. Entanglement can cause injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and can even lead to drowning. Scientists estimate that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, with researchers from the University of Exeter finding that 91% of turtles entangled in discarded fishing gear died.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles highlights the urgent need to address this issue. By reducing plastic consumption, reusing and recycling plastic items, and supporting global efforts to improve waste management and reduce plastic pollution, we can work towards protecting sea turtles and other vulnerable marine species.
While the exact amount of plastic entering our oceans may vary, the severity of its impact on marine life is undeniable. With the persistent threat of plastic pollution, it is crucial to take action through individual habits, global initiatives, and legislative changes to reduce, manage, and prevent plastic waste from entering our oceans.
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How plastic pollution affects sea turtle populations
Plastic pollution has had a devastating impact on sea turtles, affecting them at every stage of their life cycle. Sea turtles ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food, such as mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish, or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food, such as crustaceans. Research suggests that more than half of all sea turtles have eaten plastic, with one study finding that a turtle had a 22% chance of dying if it ate just one piece of plastic. Once a turtle had 14 plastic items in its gut, there was a 50% likelihood that it would die. Plastic ingestion can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, causing them to starve to death.
Sea turtles can also become entangled in plastic waste, such as discarded fishing gear, or "ghost nets", and other debris while migrating, feeding, or nesting. This can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and in severe cases, cause drowning and death. Scientists estimate that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, with one study finding that 91% of turtles entangled in discarded fishing gear died.
The impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles is further exacerbated by the fact that plastics can last forever, breaking down into microplastics that persist in the environment indefinitely. This has led to a growing amount of plastic waste in our oceans, with an estimated 5 to 13 million metric tons of plastic waste entering our oceans annually. This plastic waste is transported by ocean currents, increasing the risk of young sea turtles ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic.
The effects of plastic pollution on sea turtles are not limited to direct ingestion or entanglement but also include the leaching of toxic chemicals into the water and the ingestion of plastic by other marine organisms that sea turtles feed on. The problem of plastic pollution in our oceans is a pressing issue that requires concerted global action, including a reduction in plastic consumption, the implementation of laws banning single-use plastics, and a shift towards more sustainable packaging options.
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What can be done to reduce plastic pollution
Plastic pollution in the ocean is a massive problem, with an estimated 5–13 million metric tons of plastic waste entering the oceans annually. This is equivalent to dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. This plastic does not disappear but breaks down into microplastics that last indefinitely, endangering marine life and birds, leaching toxic chemicals, and entering our food chain. Sea turtles are one of the many species affected by this plastic pollution, with ingestion and entanglement being the two main ways plastic harms them.
To reduce plastic pollution, individuals can take action in their everyday lives to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering our oceans. Here are some ways to do this:
- Reduce consumption of single-use plastic goods like bottles, bags, and cutlery, and switch to more sustainable products like bamboo straws and reusable containers.
- Invest in reusable items, such as coffee cups, water bottles, bags, and food containers.
- Bring your own cutlery when getting takeaway food and refuse the plastic cutlery that often comes with the meal.
- Pick up any plastic trash you see when out and about.
- Buy used plastic items instead of always buying new.
- Sell or donate any unwanted plastic items that are still in good shape.
- Reuse or repurpose items such as toys, containers, and water bottles.
- Participate in or organize a recycling drive in your neighborhood or school.
- When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials.
Governments and corporations also have a responsibility to reduce plastic pollution. Governments should introduce laws and legislation banning the production or heavily taxing single-use products, as well as providing incentives for businesses to switch to more sustainable packaging options. Corporations, especially big plastic polluters, should end their reliance on single-use plastics and invest in reuse and refill options.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic can kill sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Ingestion of plastic can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick turtles into feeling full when they are not, causing them to starve. Entanglement in plastic waste can lead to injuries, hinder their ability to swim, surface for air, or feed, and in severe cases, cause drowning.
Research by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) found that a turtle had a 22% chance of dying if it ate just one piece of plastic. The mortality rate jumped to 50% once a turtle had ingested 14 plastic items. Globally, it is estimated that more than 50% of all sea turtles have eaten plastic.
Scientists estimate that at least 1,000 sea turtles die each year due to entanglement in plastic, equivalent to more than 1 turtle death every 9 hours. A study by the University of Exeter found that 91% of turtles entangled in discarded fishing gear died.
Solutions to the plastic pollution problem require both individual and governmental action. Individuals can reduce plastic consumption by investing in reusable containers, refusing single-use plastic products, and picking up plastic litter. Governments can introduce laws banning or taxing single-use plastics and provide incentives for businesses to switch to sustainable packaging.
Alternatives to plastic products include reusable containers, bags, water bottles, and cutlery. Bamboo straws are a sustainable alternative to plastic straws. Governments and businesses can also work together to switch to more sustainable packaging options.
