Marine Animals

Marine Turtle Welfare and Plastic Ingestion

All seven species of sea turtles face threats from plastic pollution, with ingestion causing internal injury, blockages, and death.

Key Facts

All seven species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered
An estimated 52% of sea turtles have ingested plastic
Plastic bags are mistaken for jellyfish, a primary prey
Microplastics have been found in sea turtle eggs
Entanglement in fishing gear kills over 250,000 turtles annually

Welfare Considerations

Sea turtles ingesting plastic suffer from intestinal blockages, perforations, and false satiety leading to starvation. Plastic accumulation in the gut causes malnutrition even when the stomach appears full. Turtles entangled in fishing gear and plastic debris drown or suffer limb amputations. Tumors caused by the fibropapillomatosis virus, worsened by pollution, cause debilitating growths.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption
Participate in coastal cleanup events
Support ocean plastic removal organizations
Advocate for stronger fishing gear regulation to reduce bycatch