How Many Animals Die Each Year How Many Sea Turtles Die Each Year Due To Pollution

Information Well-nigh Ocean Turtles: Threats from Marine Debris

The Problem: Over 1 million marine animals (including mammals, fish, sharks, turtles, and birds) are killed each yr due to plastic debris in the ocean (UNESCO Facts & Figures on Marine Pollution). Currently, it is estimated that there are 100 1000000 tons of plastic in oceans effectually the world. It is expected that another 60 billion pounds will be produced this year alone. In some areas, the buildup of plastics is estimated to span 5 1000000 foursquare miles. To put it into perspective, that is the equivalent of the area of the U.S. plus India. How does that much plastic get in that location? Eighty percent of the plastic debris comes from land. It washes out to body of water from our beaches, streets and highways. It flows out through storm drains into streams and rivers. It flies abroad from landfills and into the stomachs of sea turtles everywhere. About of the droppings is recognizable. Plastic bags, bottles, balloons, degraded buoys, packaging materials and food wrappers all contribute to the debris. While large plastics are a substantial pollutant, over time these plastics volition break down into smaller, more toxic pieces. Not merely are these pocket-size plastics more hands ingested, but they also act as hosts for invasive species, conveying them to other regions of the ocean exponentially increasing the amercement acquired by plastics. In addition, sure plastic contains toxic additives that are distributed into the h2o and enter into the food chain.

Many turtles, that accept been killed by consuming debris, had plastic bags or line-fishing line in their stomachs, some as small every bit half of a fingernail. Ocean turtles are particularly susceptible to the furnishings of consuming marine debris due to their bodies' own structure. They have down facing spines in their throats which prevent the possibility of regurgitation. The plastics get trapped in their tum, which prevents them from properly swallowing food. Also, many sea turtle rehabilitation facilities commonly deal with "bubble butts," turtles that float as a result of trapped gas caused by harmful decomposition of marine debris inside a turtle's trunk. The gases crusade the turtle to float, which leads to starvation or makes them an easy target for predators.

Species Affected: All species of body of water turtles, adult greenish turtles to a bottom degree, are afflicted by marine debris. Juvenile green turtles are heavily affected by marine debris.

The Solution: Education is important to solving marine pollution. The public can get involved in this event by:

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastics;
• Use reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags when shopping;
• Support local, regional and nationwide bans on plastic grocery bags;
• Don't litter. Instead, volunteer at local beach make clean-up events;
• Make certain to properly secure your garbage to prevent any wing-away plastics;
• Don't release balloons into the air. They travel far and terminate up in our oceans being consumed by sea turtles that fault them for food.

Case Study: Cities and countries all over the world are now considering or implementing bans on plastic bags. Canada, Australia, the U.S. and Europe, for case are all considering bans or other measures to reduce consumption. In Republic of ireland, plastic bags take been taxed since 2002, estimating a reduction in plastic bag use by about 90 pct. And in January 2008, China'due south State Council put a nationwide ban on plastic bags. The cabinet has demanded all stores go plastic handbag-gratis after June 1. Not merely will this reduction accept a positive impact on the environment, but information technology is estimated that information technology will save China's 37 1000000 barrels of oil.*

*Drilling for oil also causes ocean turtles harm in the form of pollution from spills.

Related links:

• National Marine Debris Monitoring Program
• The Life Cycle of a CD or DVD
• UNESCO Facts & Figures on Marine Pollution

Source: https://conserveturtles.org/information-sea-turtles-threats-marine-debris/

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