Wild Seabird Plastic Ingestion and Welfare

Seabirds are among the animals most severely affected by ocean plastic pollution, with millions dying annually from ingesting plastic debris mistaken for food.

Key Facts

An estimated 1 million seabirds die from plastic ingestion or entanglement annually
Over 90% of seabirds examined in some studies have plastic in their stomachs
Plastic ingestion causes a false sense of fullness, leading to starvation in adult birds
Chicks fed plastic by parents have severely compromised growth and high mortality rates
Laysan albatrosses on Midway Atoll show some of the highest plastic ingestion rates documented
Microplastics carry toxic chemicals that accumulate in seabird tissues and organs
Floating plastic concentrates in ocean gyres, coinciding with key seabird foraging areas

Welfare Considerations

Plastic ingestion causes a prolonged, painful death through starvation. As plastic accumulates in the stomach and proventriculus, birds feel full but cannot absorb nutrition, gradually wasting away. Chicks that are fed regurgitated plastic by well-intentioned parents face the same fate. Sharp plastic pieces can also lacerate digestive tissue. For long-lived species like albatrosses that mate for life and raise single chicks over years, adult mortality from plastic has severe population-level consequences. Addressing ocean plastic pollution is one of the most impactful actions available for seabird welfare.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption, especially items commonly found in ocean debris
Participate in coastal and beach cleanup events to remove plastic before it enters the ocean
Properly dispose of fishing line, nets, and tackle that entangle and kill seabirds
Support extended producer responsibility legislation for plastic packaging
Donate to organizations monitoring and removing ocean plastic
Advocate for stronger international agreements on ocean plastic pollution