Litter In The Seas And Oceans & How It Affects Whales 

The massive outbreak of media coverage regarding climate change has done its job of informing the public how severe the consequences will be if we don’t change our ways. Although people understand more about how our daily habits directly affect our environment, many individuals still don’t understand exactly why ocean pollution is catastrophic to marine life, as well. 

So, how does plastic affect marine life?

There is a current estimate of up to 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles that die yearly due to ocean plastic. The consumption of plastic by marine animals is one of the number one reasons why it is so detrimental to their health. They can suffocate from the plastic being ingested. In addition, it can also give the impression that the animal is full, which leads to starvation. Plastic bags, fishing nets, and plastic from sodas are considerable risks to marine life and lead to animals accidentally strangling themselves. Whales, in particular, are at a huge risk of consuming enough plastic to kill themselves. There are reports of dead whales having up to 100 plastic bags in their stomachs or even reports of them wrapped in plastic lines.

Something else that is important to think about is that when marine life is affected by plastic, human beings are affected, as well. Since humans eat seafood, we are putting ourselves at risk of eating plastic particles if the sea creature previously ingested some. To put an end to ocean pollution, you can start recycling, clean up after yourself at the beach, use reusable grocery bags, and even partake in a beach clean-up in your community! Even the smallest actions can make the biggest difference.