
OCEAN WASTE PLASTIC
How plastic pollution affects our marine life
Plastic pollution is sadly, becoming an inevitable part of the ocean’s ecosystems. The plastic that ends up in the ocean is extremely harmful and serves as an enormous threat to the marine life living in the ocean.
The most visible consequences of plastic pollution are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of many marine life species. Marine wildlife such as birds, whales, fish and turtles mistake the floating plastic for being edible. Most of the animals that ingest plastic die of starvation as their stomachs fill with indigestible plastic pieces. Because of the close contact with the dirty plastic, the animals have a higher risk of contracting infections, reduced ability to swim and internal/external injuries. Floating plastic pieces contribute to the spread of invasive organisms and bacteria, which disrupt the entire marine ecosystems.
PLASTIC POLLUTION FACTS
More than 10 trillion pieces of plastic currently litter the oceans (>300 million tons)