We all know that littering is bad for the environment, but many people do not realize the devastation being caused by plastic bags floating around the ocean. When plastic is left on beaches or is carried by runoff water into the ocean, it becomes a threat to the lives of shorebirds and many ocean species. Most plastic is delivered to the ocean from rivers, with about 80 percent of the plastic coming from urban sources such as landfills. While plastic bags might not seem like such a menace to humans, to some animals, it looks just like dinner.
Jellies are popular food for many animals, including sharks, swordfish, tuna, and sea turtles. These animals do not understand the difference between jellies and clear plastic bags, and they often ingest the plastic bags accidentally. Plastic cannot be digested by these animals, so it remains in their guts, preventing food digestion and eventually causing death.
On February 14, 2019, a 220-pound male loggerhead sea turtle of breeding age was found dead on a beach in Italy with large amounts of plastic in his gut. Unfortunately, this is not an unusual event. Plastic ingestion kills an estimated one million shorebirds and one hundred thousand marine animals like this turtle each year. Plastic also harms animals by entanglement, damages coral reefs, and accumulates on beaches to form “trash islands” such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the north central Pacific Ocean is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world (more than twice the size of Texas) and is one of many trash islands in the oceans.
In order to save the ocean populations that are decreasing in size dramatically due to plastic pollution, people must be aware of their plastic usage. Simply using reusable bags, water bottles, and straws can make a huge difference and save the lives of many animals. Joining in on or organizing beach cleanups can help to reduce the amount of plastic that is in the ocean. With dedication and determination, we can all do our part to reduce plastic pollution and maintain biodiversity.
The information in this article was compiled from the following sources:
Animal Friends Croatia. “How Plastic Bags Affect Wildlife.” AFC – How Plastic Bags Affect Wildlife, Planet Ark, www.prijatelji-zivotinja.hr/index.en.php?id=934.
Cronin, Ainsling Maria. “Here’s What Happens When Marine Animals Eat Plastic – and Why You Should Care.” One Green Planet, One Green Planet, 30 Oct. 2016, www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/what-happens-when-marine-animals-eat-plastic/.
SEE Turtles. “Ocean Plastic.” SEE Turtles, SEE Turtles, www.seeturtles.org/ocean-plastic/.
Squires, Nick. “Shocking Range of Plastic Found in Loggerhead Turtle That Died on an Italian Beach.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 14 Feb. 2019, www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/02/14/shocking-range-plastic-found-loggerhead-turtle-died-italian/.