Kiera Jefferson
Human activity has had a devastating impact on the world's oceans, with 14 ocean species known to have gone extinct in the last 500 years, and a further 70 facing the same fate. While the oceans have suffered far fewer extinctions than on land, researchers warn that industrialization, pollution, and climate change could cause marine extinction rates to rise rapidly. Pollution, in particular, has been deadly for many sea creatures, from turtles to whales, and seabirds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals that have gone extinct in the last 500 years | 15 |
| Marine animals that have gone extinct | Saint Helena large petrel, Labrador duck, New Zealand grayling, Java stingaree, Caribbean monk seal, Saint Helena petrel, Littoraria flammea (sea snail), Pallas's cormorant, Christmas sandpiper, Eelgrass limpet |
| Marine animals impacted by pollution | Sea turtles, Whales, Seals, Sea Lions, Hawaiian Monk seal, Beluga whales, Florida Manatee, Krill, Cape Penguin, Coral, Gray Whale |
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What You'll Learn
Sea turtles are endangered by plastic pollution
Sea turtles are one of the most iconic marine animals. However, they are greatly endangered by human pollution. The Pacific Loggerhead sea turtle is one species that constantly falls victim to discarded plastics like six-pack rings and plastic packaging. Plastic pollution has been declared more deadly to sea turtles than oil spills.
Sea turtles come into contact with plastic debris at various stages of their life cycle and in a range of different habitats, both near the coast and in the open ocean. Plastic pollution affects sea turtles in two main ways: ingestion and entanglement. Sea turtles can ingest plastic by mistaking it for their natural food (e.g. a plastic bag for a jellyfish) or by accidentally eating plastic that is present among their natural food (e.g. a plastic straw on the seafloor among crustaceans). Researchers have also found that sea turtles are attracted to the way that marine plastics smell, likely due to the organisms that latch on to plastic debris in the ocean. As a result, scientists have estimated that more than half of all sea turtles have eaten plastic.
When sea turtles eat plastic, it can cause physical damage to their intestines, lead to blockages, or trick the turtles into feeling full when they are not. Research conducted 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. Once a turtle had 14 plastic items in its gut, there was a 50% likelihood that it would die. Ingesting plastics isn’t a harmless mistake, as the consumption of this man-made material can cost sea turtles their lives. Plastic can cause blockages in their intestines and even pierce the intestinal wall, causing internal bleeding.
Sea turtles are also affected by plastic through entanglement. Trash on nesting beaches can entangle adult sea turtles, and hatchlings can get caught in the debris as they make their way to the ocean. Tiny bits of plastic in the sand can also affect nests and hatchlings.
To protect sea turtles, individuals can reduce their use of single-use plastics, properly dispose of their waste, and pick up any loose plastic waste they come across. Hundreds of organizations globally are also working to fight plastic pollution through cleanups, advocacy, and public awareness campaigns.
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Hawaiian monk seals are declining due to pollution
The Hawaiian monk seal, or "ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua" in Hawaiian, is an earless seal species that has called the Islands of Hawaii home for the past 3.5 million years. They are one of the two remaining monk seal species in the world, the other being the Mediterranean monk seal. Unfortunately, human activities have put this species in danger of extinction.
Hawaiian monk seals are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Their population has been in decline since the 1980s, and there are now only about 1,100-1,500 Hawaiian monk seals left in the wild, with a 4% annual population decline. The species faces various threats, including tiger shark predation, entanglement in fishing gear, marine debris, and human disturbance.
One of the biggest threats to Hawaiian monk seals is pollution. Plastic pollution, in particular, has been a major issue, affecting seal health and breeding efforts. Hawaiian beaches that serve as nursing grounds for monk seal pups have been filled with debris, leading to the ingestion of harmful plastics. A 2013 account described Kamilo beach, a monk seal nursing ground, as a "plastic soup," with a large number of bottle caps in the sand. Additionally, the toxoplasmosis pathogen in cat feces, which enters the ocean through polluted runoff and wastewater, has killed at least eleven seals since 2001.
Other human-introduced pathogens, such as leptospirosis, have also infected monk seals. Marine debris entanglement has led to high juvenile mortality rates, with young seals starving to death due to their inability to hunt while entangled. The reduction of prey abundance due to environmental changes further exacerbates the issue of starvation. Noise pollution from cargo traffic also impacts the species, as it disrupts their communication and ability to navigate.
Conservation efforts have been implemented to protect the Hawaiian monk seal, and they seem to be making a difference. Around 30% of monk seals are alive today due to life-saving interventions. Organizations like Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii have been organizing large-scale beach cleanups, removing pollution from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The local communities on the Island of O'ahu have also been involved in conservation efforts, fostering a sense of responsibility toward the species.
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Finless porpoises face industrial and plastic pollution
Marine life is suffering due to pollution from oils, chemicals, plastics, and other sources. Plastic is one of the biggest pollutants in the ocean, as it is cheap to make and used extensively, but it is often not disposed of properly.
The finless porpoise is one such marine animal that is facing the threat of industrial and plastic pollution. The Yangtze finless porpoise, a freshwater mammal, is a critically endangered species. The Yangtze River, which is home to these porpoises, has been facing immense pressure from China's industrial sector, with 55% of all river marine plastic pollution ending up in the river. The river has also been affected by pollution from agriculture, chemical production, and other industrial processes like textile dyeing. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam power plant, the world's largest capacity hydroelectric power station, has also contributed to the problem by increasing commercial shipping in the area.
Noise pollution from powerful propellers and motors of boats and barges is another issue that affects the finless porpoises. As cetaceans, these porpoises use echolocation or natural sonar to navigate their surroundings. Noise pollution can cause mothers to become separated from their young, disrupt foraging patterns, and make it difficult for them to communicate or breed.
In addition to industrial pollution, plastic pollution is also a significant threat to finless porpoises. Microplastics have been detected in the intestinal tracts of East Asian finless porpoises in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea of China. While the microplastics are small and do not cause physical obstructions through entanglement or swallowing, they can embed within tissues and induce local gastrointestinal tract damage. They can also act as carriers of toxic substances, such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, which can have detrimental health effects.
The problem of plastic pollution is not limited to the Yangtze finless porpoises. Finless porpoises along the Fujian coast of the East China Sea have also been affected by microplastic pollution. The frequent fishing activities and the increased use of plastic fishing gear in the area have introduced microplastics into the marine environment, which can then be ingested by the porpoises.
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Krill are endangered due to overharvesting
Marine life is suffering due to pollution, from oils to chemicals and plastics. A 2017 study suggested that the Earth is undergoing "biological annihilation", with half of the animal individuals that once shared the planet with us already gone. Marine birds, mammals, sea snails, sea ducks, sea turtles, seals, whales, and dolphins are among the ocean animals that have gone extinct or are on the verge of extinction.
Krill, which means "whale food" in Norwegian, are a type of plankton. They are a critical component of the Antarctic food web, providing food for fish, whales, seals, penguins, albatross, and other seabirds, as well as marine invertebrates. Krill populations have declined by 80% since the 1970s, and researchers and environmental campaigners warn that a combination of climate change and industrial-scale fishing is threatening their population in Antarctic waters.
Antarctic krill are one of the most abundant species in the world in terms of biomass, but scientists and conservationists are concerned about their future due to overfishing, climate change, and other human activities. Krill fishing has increased as demand rises for the tiny crustaceans, which are used as feed additives for global aquaculture and processed for krill oil. Krill oil is sold as a dietary supplement for human consumption, and whole krill is used for animal feed and pet food.
While some sources claim that overharvesting is not the main threat to krill populations, others argue that recent developments in fishing technology, such as suction harvesting by large trawlers, have allowed for the gathering of vast quantities of krill, exacerbating the problem.
The decline in krill populations has the potential to disastrously impact larger predators, and conservationists are calling for updated rules and new conservation measures to protect krill.
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Pollution and commercial fishing endanger cape penguins
The African penguin species, found off the southern Cape coastline in Walker Bay, near Hermanus, South Africa, is now critically endangered. This is due to a combination of factors, including pollution and commercial fishing.
Pollution
Chronic oil pollution in the ocean and large individual oil spills are incredibly harmful to African penguins, especially as most of their population lives close to major shipping ports. Oil spills can damage the penguins' nesting sites and make it harder for them to breed and ensure the survival of their young. In addition, plastic pollution is also a significant issue, as penguins can become entangled in plastic debris or ingest it, leading to health complications and death.
Commercial Fishing
Commercial fishing has been identified as a major contributor to the decline in the African penguin population. African penguins are specialist feeders, relying on small pelagic fish like anchovies and sardines. However, commercial fisheries often target these same species, creating direct competition for resources. As fishing depletes these fish stocks, penguins struggle to find enough food, which is critical for their survival and successful breeding.
To address the issue of overfishing and protect the African penguin population, conservation organizations like the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) have been advocating for greater protection of the species. In March 2025, a significant development was made when South African conservationists and fishing industry groups reached a legal settlement to implement no-fishing zones around six of the penguins' major breeding colonies. This agreement will restrict sardine and anchovy fishing within a 12-mile (20 km) radius of the penguin colonies on Robben Island and Bird Island for a period of 10 years.
While the exact number of sea animals that have gone extinct due to pollution is unknown, it is estimated that around 15 marine animals have gone extinct in the last 500 years. Pollution, along with deforestation and habitat destruction, has been identified as a major factor in the planet's sixth mass extinction. It is crucial to address these issues and take action to protect endangered species like the African penguins before they reach the point of no return.
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Frequently asked questions
Sea turtles, sperm whales, seals, dolphins, and sharks are currently endangered due to pollution.
It is difficult to pinpoint which sea animals have gone extinct due to a single factor such as pollution. However, it is known that the Steller's sea cow, the sea mink, the New Zealand grayling, and the Caribbean monk seal have gone extinct due in part to human activities such as hunting, overfishing, and pollution.
In addition to pollution, overfishing, habitat loss, climate change, hunting, and human development are major factors that contribute to the endangerment and extinction of sea animals.
To protect sea animals from endangerment and extinction, people can support grassroots organizations working to defend endangered species, reduce pollution by recycling plastics, and advocate for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
