Marine plastic pollution causes widespread suffering in seabirds, marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish through ingestion, entanglement, and chemical contamination.
Key Facts
8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually
90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs in some studies
Microplastic ingestion is now documented across the marine food web
Ghost fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of marine animals annually
Plastic ingestion causes starvation, organ damage, and reproductive harm
Welfare Considerations
Marine plastic causes diverse welfare harms from the acute trauma of entanglement to the chronic suffering of starvation from stomachs filled with indigestible plastic. Individual animals suffer severely and many die slowly. Addressing marine plastic pollution is simultaneously a conservation and welfare imperative, requiring systemic change in plastic production and waste management.
What You Can Do
Reduce single-use plastic consumption and advocate for bans
Participate in beach and waterway clean-up events
Support organizations retrieving ghost fishing gear
Advocate for extended producer responsibility for plastic waste management