Wildlife Welfare

Wild Seabird Plastic Ingestion and Population Welfare

Plastic pollution is causing widespread mortality and suffering in seabirds globally, with the albatross and petrel families most severely affected.

Key Facts

Over 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic based on current trends
Chick mortality from plastic-fed by parents is high in some albatross populations
Plastic causes bowel obstruction, starvation, and toxic effects
Midway Atoll is home to mass mortality of Laysan albatross chicks from plastic
Ocean gyres concentrate plastic debris in key seabird foraging areas

Welfare Considerations

Seabirds that ingest plastic experience blockage of the digestive system leading to starvation and death. Parents feeding plastic to chicks cause preventable suffering on a vast scale. The welfare dimension of ocean plastic pollution is one of the most significant and largely preventable wildlife welfare problems caused by human consumption patterns.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption dramatically
Support beach and ocean cleanup initiatives
Advocate for plastic producer responsibility legislation