Lexi Webster
Marine pollution, especially plastic, kills millions of animals in Australia each year. It is difficult to know the exact number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution, but estimates suggest that plastic kills 100,000 marine mammals and over 1 million seabirds annually. The impact of plastic pollution on marine life in Australia is evident, with rare species such as the humpback dolphin found only in Australian and New Guinean waters observed entangled in marine debris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution per year | 100,000 marine mammals and over 1 million seabirds |
| Number of plastic pieces in the ocean | 5.25 trillion pieces |
| Number of microfibres per square kilometre | 4 billion |
| Number of tons of floating plastic | 300,000 |
| Number of tons of plastic leaked into the ocean by China | 84,792 |
| Number of tons of plastic leaked into the ocean by the US | 1,469,481 |
| Number of tons of plastic leaked into the ocean by India and Bangladesh | 72,845 |
| Number of tons of plastic produced in 1950 | 2.3 million |
| Number of tons of plastic produced in 2015 | 448 million |
| Number of tons of plastic in the ocean every year | 8 million |
| Number of tons of commercial fishing gear discarded into the ocean every year | 500,000 |
| Number of cetaceans killed by discarded fishing gear | 300,000 |
| Percentage of seabirds that have ingested plastic debris | 32% |
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What You'll Learn
- Marine mammals, birds, and other creatures are killed by plastic
- Abandoned fishing gear entangles and kills whales, dolphins, and other species
- Plastic ingestion causes starvation and death in marine animals
- Plastic waste in oceans comes from rivers, boats, and land
- Marine pollution disrupts the global food chain
Marine mammals, birds, and other creatures are killed by plastic
Another way plastic kills marine animals is through entanglement. Large items of plastic can capture and entangle marine mammals and fish, restricting their movement and making them vulnerable to starvation, injury, and predators. "Ghost gear" or abandoned fishing gear, such as ropes, nets, and pots, is a significant contributor to entanglement, affecting whales, dolphins, porpoises, and even small crabs. This plastic waste can cut deep into the skin of animals, leading to potentially deadly infections.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life also extends beyond immediate physical harm. Marine apex predators, such as great white sharks and orcas, face the threat of microplastic pollution and the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals found in plastics. A single plastic particle can absorb up to one million times more toxic chemicals than the surrounding water, and these chemicals build up in the fatty tissues of animals that consume contaminated prey. As a result, higher-level predators that consume contaminated species experience higher concentrations of toxins in their bodies.
The problem of plastic pollution in Australia's oceans is significant, with an estimated 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into the oceans each year. This pollution indiscriminately kills marine mammals, birds, and other creatures. While the exact number of deaths is challenging to determine, it is estimated that plastic pollution kills around 100,000 marine mammals annually worldwide. This includes various species such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, sea lions, and more.
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Abandoned fishing gear entangles and kills whales, dolphins, and other species
It is difficult to know the exact number of marine animals killed by plastic pollution in Australia. However, plastic pollution kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals globally every year, and Australia is a contributor to this problem, with 130,000 tonnes of plastic leaking into its oceans annually. Abandoned fishing gear is a significant part of this, with an estimated 640,000 tonnes of plastic entering the oceans each year in the form of "ghost fishing equipment". This gear is either deliberately discarded or washed from ships or shorelines, and it entangles and kills whales, dolphins, and other species.
Whales and dolphins are particularly vulnerable to entanglement in abandoned fishing gear due to their size and the nature of their habitats. Large whales, for example, have been found with severe lacerations from fishing gear that cut deep into their blubber and even their bones. In some cases, fins and flukes can be partially or totally amputated by tightening gear. Dolphins caught in abandoned fishing gear often have broken teeth, beaks, or jaws, as well as extreme internal injuries.
The problem of abandoned fishing gear is not limited to Australia, but it is a global issue that requires international cooperation to address. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) launched the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network (GWERN) in 2011 to build safe and effective entanglement response capabilities worldwide. This network has trained scientists, conservationists, whale-watching operators, fishers, government representatives, and members of naval and coastguard services to respond to entanglements and collect accurate data.
In Australia, there have been several incidents of whales and dolphins becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear. For example, a helicopter crew spotted a whale entangled in over 650 feet of rope and 10 buoys near Victoria's Gippsland coast, and officials rescued the whale by removing most of the abandoned gear. In another instance, rescuers freed a whale off Queensland's Marcoola Beach that had become entangled in a discarded net once used to capture sharks. These incidents highlight the ongoing threat of abandoned fishing gear to marine life in Australia and the need for continued conservation efforts.
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Plastic ingestion causes starvation and death in marine animals
While it is challenging to determine the exact number of marine animals that perish due to plastic pollution in Australia, it is estimated that globally, plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals annually. This crisis is a direct consequence of human actions, and it is our responsibility to address it.
Plastic ingestion is a significant contributor to the mortality of marine animals. Marine species, including birds, fish, mammals, and sea turtles, inadvertently consume plastic debris that floats on the ocean's surface or is entangled with their natural food sources. The ingested plastic can cause internal injuries, intestinal blockages, and starvation, ultimately leading to death.
Seabirds, such as albatrosses, fulmars, and shearwaters, are particularly susceptible to plastic ingestion. These birds mistake small plastic fragments for food, leading to starvation or suffocation. Additionally, some bird species, like petrels, have difficulty regurgitating plastic, further exacerbating the problem.
Marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, and seals, are also at risk. They may misinterpret plastic waste as prey due to their sophisticated sonar techniques. For example, a pregnant pygmy sperm whale was found stranded near Melbourne, with its stomach filled with ingested plastic, ultimately leading to its euthanasia.
Furthermore, plastic ingestion can cause inflammation of abdominal tissues, as seen in the case of a sperm whale that died with nearly 30 kilograms of indigestible plastic in its system. Sea turtles are also affected, as they mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or fishing nets for seaweed, leading to a false sense of fullness and subsequent starvation.
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Plastic waste in oceans comes from rivers, boats, and land
While it is difficult to know the exact number, plastic pollution is estimated to kill 100,000 marine mammals globally each year. In Australia, 130,000 tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean annually, causing the deaths of marine mammals, birds, and other creatures.
In Australia, the government has taken steps to address plastic pollution through the Environment Restoration Fund (ERF). The ERF has provided funding for projects like ReefClean and Clean4Shore, which focus on cleaning up marine debris and reducing the threat of plastics in waterways and coastlines. Additionally, the government has partnered with organizations like Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Tangaroa Blue Foundation to tackle plastic pollution.
Boats and ships can also contribute to plastic waste in the oceans. Abandoned fishing gear, also known as "ghost fishing equipment," is a significant issue. This gear can be deliberately discarded or accidentally washed from ships and shorelines, entangling marine life and leading to their deaths.
Land-based sources of plastic waste include single-use plastic items such as cutlery, straws, bottle caps, takeaway containers, and plastic bags. These items are often mistaken for food by marine animals, leading to internal injuries or starvation. To address this, Australia has implemented bans on single-use plastics in most states or territories, and organizations have created resources to raise awareness and educate communities about the impact of plastic pollution.
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Marine pollution disrupts the global food chain
Marine pollution is a pressing issue that poses a grave threat to the global food chain. The majority of marine pollution, about 80%, originates from land-based human activities, including nonpoint source pollution from runoff, such as septic tanks, vehicles, farms, and timber harvest areas, and point source pollution from oil or chemical spills. While the exact number of marine animal deaths caused by plastic pollution is challenging to determine, it is estimated that plastic kills 100,000 marine mammals annually, with 81 out of 123 marine mammal species known to have ingested or become entangled in plastic.
Plastic pollution in the oceans has severe consequences for marine life. Marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seabirds, sea turtles, and seals, face the risk of ingestion or entanglement in plastic debris. For example, sea turtles may mistake floating plastic for food, leading to choking, internal injuries, or starvation as plastic reduces stomach capacity. Similarly, whales and dolphins use echolocation to find prey, but unnatural objects like plastic waste can confuse this ability, leading them to mistakenly ingest plastic. Plastic pollution also affects the reproductive abilities of some species, such as sea turtles, and can cause deadly infections in others, like the humpback dolphin.
Oil spills are another significant contributor to marine pollution, with detrimental effects on marine life. Oil can ensnare and suffocate marine animals, impairing the gills of fish and the feathers of seabirds, impacting their ability to fly or feed their young. Even animals that survive crude oil exposure may suffer long-term health issues, including cancer, behavioural changes, and reproductive difficulties.
Moreover, marine pollution has indirect effects on the food chain. Small organisms, such as phytoplankton, absorb toxins like methylmercury, which are then passed on to larger predators. As a result, toxins accumulate in the tissue of animals higher up in the food chain, including humans who consume seafood. This can lead to health issues such as cancer and birth defects.
Excess chemical fertilisers used on land can also make their way into the oceans, contributing to marine pollution. High concentrations of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in the water can trigger harmful algal blooms, or "red tides," which produce toxic effects on marine life and, in some cases, humans.
The impact of marine pollution extends beyond the immediate harm to individual organisms. It disrupts the delicate balance of the global food chain, threatening the interconnected web of marine life and ultimately impacting human health and well-being. Addressing marine pollution requires collective efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics, as well as adopting more sustainable practices to minimise the release of pollutants into the ocean.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to know the exact number of animals killed by pollution in Australia, but it is estimated that plastic pollution kills 100,000 marine mammals every year. This includes the humpback dolphin, a rare species found only in the waters around Australia and New Guinea.
Marine animals can die from ingestion of plastic or entanglement in plastic-based fishing gear. Seabirds, in particular, are affected by plastic pollution, with millions dying each year from ingesting plastic. The plastic fills their stomachs, leading to a reduced feeling of hunger and subsequent weakening. Larger fragments of plastic can also obstruct their gastrointestinal tract.
Individuals can play a role in reducing plastic pollution and its impact on marine animals by recycling, using reusable items instead of disposable ones, and participating in beach or community cleanups.
