Aquatic Animals

Welfare of Animals in Marine Debris

Marine debris — plastic, fishing gear, and waste — entangles, injures, and kills millions of marine animals annually with welfare consequences that are largely invisible to the public.

Key Facts

An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean each year
Ghost fishing gear (lost or discarded nets) kills an estimated 650,000 marine animals annually
Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, seabirds, and seals are among the most frequently entangled species
Plastic ingestion causes intestinal blockage and chemical toxicity in hundreds of species
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an estimated 1.6 million square kilometers

Welfare Considerations

Marine debris welfare harms are often prolonged and severe: entanglement in ghost gear can restrict movement and feeding for weeks before death; plastic ingestion causes slow starvation as stomachs fill with non-food material. Rescue of entangled animals is difficult and dangerous for both animal and rescuers. Individual animals rescued from entanglement often carry permanent injuries. Prevention through upstream plastic reduction is more welfare-effective than rescue.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption to prevent ocean debris at source
Participate in beach and coastal clean-up programs removing debris before it enters the ocean
Support Ghost Fishing Foundation and NOAA Marine Debris Program
Donate to marine animal rescue organizations that respond to entanglement emergencies