Meghan Hodges
Ocean creatures are being harmed by pollution at an alarming rate. The majority of pollutants in the ocean come from human activities, with billions of pounds of plastic ending up in the ocean each year. This plastic pollution affects a wide range of marine life, from large creatures like whales and dolphins to tiny seahorses and coral reefs. Seabirds, in particular, mistake plastic fragments for food, leading to starvation or suffocation. Marine mammals also ingest plastic or get entangled in it, causing thousands of deaths annually. Additionally, microplastics and toxic chemicals accumulate in the food chain, impacting apex predators such as great white sharks and orcas. With plastic production set to increase, urgent action is needed to address this growing crisis and protect marine life from the harmful effects of ocean pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often ocean creatures get hurt by pollution | Every year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean. |
| Marine animals that eat plastic | Seabirds, whales, dolphins, seahorses, fish, sea turtles, seals, marine mammals, plankton, molluscs, mussels, oysters, apex predators (e.g. great white sharks, orcas), and more. |
| Marine animals that get tangled in plastic | Seabirds, whales, dolphins, seahorses, fish, sea turtles, seals, marine mammals, plankton, and more. |
| Number of marine mammals killed by plastic every year | 100,000 |
| Percentage of plastic in the ocean that is litter | 80% |
| Number of species affected by marine debris | 800 |
| Number of species affected by plastic litter | 700 |
| Percentage of plastic in the ocean that is microplastics | 80% |
| Number of ocean surfaces covered by plastic | 40% |
| Year when weight of ocean plastics will exceed the combined weight of all fish in the sea | 2050 |
| Number of seabird species that have eaten plastic | 60% |
| Number of countries that have enacted regulations to limit or ban disposable plastic items | 60 |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic ingestion
Marine mammals, birds, and other creatures are indiscriminately killed by plastic pollution. It is estimated that more than 100,000 marine mammals die each year due to marine plastics, with ingestion being one of the primary causes.
Seabirds, in particular, are highly susceptible to ingesting plastic as they feed from the surface of the ocean, mistaking small plastic fragments for food. Northern fulmars, for example, ingest plastic pellets, and this species is now monitored as an indicator of pellet pollution levels in the North Sea. It is estimated that 60% of all seabird species have eaten plastic, and this number is predicted to rise to 99% by 2050.
Sea turtles are also severely impacted by plastic ingestion. Research indicates that half of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. They often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or sponges, their natural prey. Plastic ingestion can lead to choking, internal injuries, and starvation as turtles feel full after eating plastic. Additionally, ingesting too much plastic can cause sea turtles to become positively buoyant, making it difficult for them to dive for food and increasing their vulnerability to predators and boat strikes.
Even the intelligent dolphins are not exempt from the dangers of plastic ingestion. While they may be less likely to directly consume plastic, they can still be contaminated through prey that has ingested synthetic compounds.
The impact of plastic ingestion extends beyond the individual creatures. Microplastics have become part of the food chain, transferring from smaller fish to larger predators, marine mammals, and eventually human seafood eaters. Biomagnification occurs when toxins build up in the fatty tissues of animals that have consumed contaminated prey, resulting in higher toxin concentrations in top predators like orcas.
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Entanglement in plastic
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects ocean wildlife in numerous ways, including entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination. Entanglement in plastic is a significant concern, causing injuries and deaths among marine creatures.
Fishing ropes, nets, and pots made from plastic pose a severe threat to a wide range of marine life, from blue whales to small crabs. Each year, an estimated 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises perish due to entanglement in ghost gear, which includes abandoned or lost fishing equipment. The impact of entanglement can be immediate, such as drowning, or more gradual, causing infections and injuries from the constricting gear.
Smaller marine animals, like sea turtles, seals, and porpoises, are at risk of immediate drowning if entangled in large or heavy plastic debris. Larger whales, on the other hand, may be able to pull themselves free from some gear but still suffer injuries and increased vulnerability to vessel strikes.
The issue of entanglement in plastic is not limited to the ocean's surface. Plastic pollution has been found contaminating deep-sea cold-water corals and building up in unique and vulnerable deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities.
Responders have developed specialized tools and techniques to disentangle whales and other marine animals. They utilize small inflatable rescue boats and satellite tracking to locate and assist entangled whales safely. One such technique, called "kegging," involves throwing grapples or hooks to attach to the entangling gear and using large buoys to slow the whale down.
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Ocean acidification
The increase in acidity poses a twofold challenge for marine life: decreased carbonate availability and increased acidity. Carbonate is a key building block in seawater, and many ocean plants and animals use it to build shells and skeletons. Increased acidity slows the growth of these structures and can even dissolve them faster than they form. This is particularly problematic for calcifying organisms like coral and some plankton, as well as molluscs and some varieties of algae and seagrass. These organisms may struggle to adapt to the rapid pace of acidification, and their loss can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems and the human societies that depend on them.
Laboratory studies suggest that ocean acidification will harm life forms that rely on carbonate-based shells and skeletons, as well as organisms sensitive to acidity and those higher up the food chain that feed on these sensitive organisms. For example, sea urchin and oyster larvae may not develop properly, and fish larvae may lose their ability to smell and avoid predators. This vulnerability during the early life stages of many marine fish and invertebrates means that their offspring may not reach adulthood, threatening the survival of entire species.
The impacts of ocean acidification are already being felt by some ocean organisms. Branching and reef-building corals, for instance, struggle to live in acidified waters due to their more fragile structures. Additionally, limited evidence suggests that some organisms are more sensitive to acidification than others, and the rapid rate of change doesn't give marine life much time to adapt. While some species may find ways to adapt, the overall impact on ocean ecosystems is expected to be dramatic and mostly negative.
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Noise pollution
Marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, and porpoises rely on sound to survive. They use clicks, whistles, and echolocation for long-distance communication and to locate prey, mates, and offspring. They also use sound to avoid predators, navigate, and defend their territories. Noise pollution interferes with these key life functions by disrupting the detection of acoustic signals and masking the sounds produced by marine wildlife. This can lead to changes in individual and social behaviour, altered metabolisms, and hampered population recruitment, which can affect the health and function of marine ecosystems.
The major contributors to ocean noise pollution are human activities, also known as anthropogenic noise pollution. Cargo vessels, large container ships, naval exercises, seismic air guns used in oil and gas exploration, commercial shipping traffic, and coastal jet ski traffic are all significant sources of underwater noise. The noise produced by these activities is often far louder than natural ocean sounds and can travel for thousands of kilometers underwater.
The impacts of noise pollution on marine life can be devastating. Marine animals may flee their original habitats, abandoning their critical feeding grounds and ending up hurt or dead. They may also experience physiological stress, with increased anxiety and stress hormone levels. In some cases, noise pollution can cause hearing loss and even internal bleeding. For example, in 2000, 17 beaked whales stranded off the coast of the Bahamas following naval exercises involving mid-frequency sonar. Post-mortem examinations revealed physical trauma and internal bleeding.
To reduce noise pollution and mitigate its impacts on marine life, several measures can be implemented. Policies and guidelines can be established to encourage the adoption of quieter ship designs, modifications to hulls, and the use of quieter propellers. Quieter technologies and construction methods, such as bubble curtains during offshore construction, can also help absorb and scatter sound waves. Additionally, locating navy exercises away from known feeding and calving grounds and gradually ramping up sound levels can reduce the harmful effects of sonar on marine mammals. By implementing these measures, we can improve the ocean soundscape and enable the recovery and conservation of marine life.
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Chemical waste
The use of fertilizers on farms is another source of chemical contamination, or nutrient pollution. This human activity leads to the runoff of chemicals into waterways that flow into the ocean. The increased concentration of chemicals, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in coastal areas, promotes the growth of algal blooms. These blooms can be toxic to marine wildlife and harmful to humans, negatively impacting local fishing and tourism industries.
Additionally, plastic pollution in the ocean is not just a physical eyesore but also a chemical concern. As plastic items break down over hundreds of years, they release chemicals that further contaminate the sea. Microplastics, tiny plastic particles, are ingested by marine organisms, which absorb the chemicals into their tissues. These toxic chemicals then migrate up the food chain, eventually reaching humans through seafood consumption.
Furthermore, manufacturing plants worldwide release toxic waste, including mercury, into the ocean. Oil spills, both from ships and runoff, also contribute significantly to chemical pollution in the ocean. While headline-grabbing spills are concerning, routine runoff from roads, rivers, and drainpipes accounts for 2-3 times more oil pollution in the ocean.
The impact of chemical waste on ocean creatures is profound and often deadly. Marine animals suffer physical harm and toxic exposure, with health consequences extending to humans who consume contaminated seafood. Additionally, noise pollution from shipping and military activity can cause cellular damage to invertebrates like jellyfish and anemones, which are a vital food source for larger creatures in the ocean ecosystem.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution has a direct and deadly effect on ocean wildlife. Marine animals ingest plastic or get entangled in it, which can cause choking, internal injuries, starvation, suffocation, skin irritation, infection, and even death.
While it is challenging to determine the exact number, it is estimated that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals annually. It is also estimated that up to 13 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year.
A wide range of ocean creatures are affected by plastic pollution, including seabirds, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, seals, polar bears, and fish. According to the United Nations, at least 800 species worldwide are impacted by marine debris, with plastic accounting for 80% of that litter.
The primary sources of plastic pollution in the ocean are human activities along coastlines and far inland. Nonpoint source pollution, such as runoff from septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and livestock ranches, is a significant contributor. Point source pollution, such as oil or chemical spills, also occurs less frequently but can have larger impacts.
To reduce the impact of plastic pollution on ocean creatures, it is crucial to address the problem at its source. This includes improving waste management practices, reducing plastic leakage into the environment, promoting plastic reuse and recycling, and regulating plastics as a hazardous pollutant. Individual actions, such as recycling, using reusable items, and participating in beach cleanups, can also make a collective difference.
