Marine Debris and Wildlife Harm | Animal Welfare Hub

Marine debris — primarily plastic — causes widespread harm to marine wildlife through entanglement, ingestion, and habitat degradation, affecting hundreds of species globally.

Key Facts

An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year
Over 800 species of marine wildlife are affected by plastic entanglement and ingestion
Sea turtles commonly ingest plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish
Plastic ingestion causes internal injuries, blockages, and false satiation leading to starvation
Ghost fishing gear — lost or abandoned nets — continues to trap and kill marine animals indefinitely

Welfare Considerations

Marine debris causes profound individual animal suffering across species from the largest whales to the smallest seabirds. Entanglement in fishing gear and six-pack rings causes constriction wounds, drowning, and starvation. Ingested plastic accumulates in digestive systems, causing impaction, perforation, and the false feeling of fullness that leads to starvation in otherwise healthy animals. Microplastics are now found in the tissues of virtually every marine organism studied, with emerging evidence of physiological harm at the cellular level.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption and switch to reusable alternatives
Participate in beach and waterway clean-up events
Support extended producer responsibility legislation for plastic packaging
Advocate for mandatory gear marking and fishing net retrieval requirements
Donate to organisations working on ghost gear retrieval and marine debris monitoring