Marine Wildlife

Seabird Plastic Ingestion Welfare

Plastic ingestion causes chronic harm to seabirds globally, with gut obstruction, toxin exposure, and false satiety leading to starvation and significant individual suffering.

Key Facts

Over 90% of seabirds studied contain plastic in their digestive systems
Laysan albatross chicks are fed plastic by parents who mistake it for food
Plastic causes gut obstruction, perforation, and satiation preventing adequate food intake
Microplastics concentrate persistent organic pollutants causing toxic effects
Northern fulmar plastic burden is used as an EU indicator of marine pollution

Welfare Considerations

Plastic ingestion causes chronic, progressive harm to individual seabirds through obstruction, toxicity, and nutritional deprivation. At current rates of plastic pollution, this represents one of the most widespread ongoing welfare harms in marine wildlife.

What You Can Do

Reduce your single-use plastic consumption to decrease marine plastic pollution
Participate in beach clean events to remove plastic before it enters the ocean
Support legislation for extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging