Marine Animals

Marine Debris and Wildlife Welfare

Marine debris beyond plastic — including fishing gear, balloons, and cigarette butts — causes significant welfare harm to marine and coastal wildlife.

Key Facts

Ghost fishing gear — lost or abandoned equipment — is responsible for 10% of ocean plastic
Mylar balloons released at events regularly end up in the ocean and are ingested by sea turtles
Cigarette butts contain toxins that harm marine organisms in water
Seabird entanglement in rubber bands causes limb loss in thousands of birds annually

Welfare Considerations

Each debris item creates potential welfare harm to multiple individual animals over its potentially century-long persistence in the environment. Ghost fishing gear continues to trap and kill animals indefinitely. Animals that ingest debris suffer bowel obstruction, starvation, and toxin accumulation. Prevention through waste reduction is vastly more effective than cleanup after the fact.

What You Can Do

Never release balloons — alternatives including bubbles and wildflower seeds exist for celebrations
Properly dispose of fishing line, hooks, and tackle rather than abandoning on beaches
Participate in organized coastal cleanups to remove existing debris
Support legislation for extended producer responsibility for items that become marine debris