Marine Debris Entanglement in Wildlife

Plastic rings, fishing line, nets, and packaging entangle millions of marine animals annually, causing injury, starvation, and death.

Key Facts

An estimated 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost or abandoned in oceans annually
Ghost gear (lost fishing equipment) continues trapping animals indefinitely
Marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and fish all suffer entanglement mortality
Seals and sea lions are particularly vulnerable to entanglement in packing bands and net fragments
Organizations like Ghost Gear Initiative are working to remove abandoned fishing equipment

Welfare Considerations

Marine debris entanglement causes some of the most prolonged and visible suffering in wildlife. Animals entangled in plastic rings, fishing line, or net fragments experience constriction that worsens as they grow, leading to progressive tissue damage, starvation from restricted movement, and eventually death. Ghost fishing gear continues operating without human oversight, trapping and drowning air-breathing marine mammals long after it has been lost. Prevention through better gear management and plastic reduction, combined with active removal programs, addresses both the immediate welfare emergency and its root causes.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption and properly dispose of plastic packaging
Cut apart any plastic rings before disposal to prevent wildlife entanglement
Support ghost gear retrieval programs in your region
Participate in beach and waterway cleanups
Advocate for regulations requiring biodegradable fishing gear and gear tracking systems