Microplastic pollution is pervasive in marine ecosystems and causes physical harm, chemical exposure, and behavioural disruption in marine wildlife.
Microplastic pollution represents a diffuse but pervasive welfare threat to marine animals who ingest particles mistaken for prey, suffer physical obstruction, and accumulate toxic chemicals. Seabird chicks fed plastic by parents who cannot distinguish it from food die slowly from malnutrition and chemical poisoning. Addressing microplastic pollution requires systemic reduction in plastic production and use.