Marine Debris and Seabird Entanglement

Marine debris including plastic bags, fishing line, and packaging causes entanglement deaths and injuries in seabirds worldwide, representing a significant and growing welfare problem.

Key Facts

Over 1 million seabirds die from plastic pollution annually according to UNEP estimates
Albatrosses feed plastic debris to chicks, causing starvation from gut blockage in thousands of chicks per year
Fishing line entanglement amputates limbs, causes infection, and creates prolonged deaths in gulls and gannets
Over 90% of seabirds examined post-mortem contain plastic in their digestive systems
Ghost fishing gear - lost or abandoned nets - continues catching and killing seabirds for years after deployment

Welfare Considerations

Marine debris causes welfare harm through multiple pathways. Entanglement in fishing line and plastic packaging causes injury, infection, and death through starvation and drowning. Ingestion of plastic debris causes gut blockage, chemical contamination, and false satiation leading to starvation. Albatross chick mortality from plastic fed by parents is one of the most documentable welfare impacts of plastic pollution. The geographic remoteness of most seabird breeding sites means individual welfare interventions are nearly impossible, making prevention at source the only practical welfare approach.

What You Can Do

Eliminate single-use plastic from your daily consumption to reduce marine debris at source
Participate in beach and coastline clean-up events removing debris before it reaches the sea
Support legislation banning the most harmful plastic items including fishing gear deposit schemes
Donate to seabird conservation organizations monitoring and rehabilitating entangled birds
Advocate for extended producer responsibility making plastic manufacturers responsible for end-of-life disposal