Welfare of Animals in Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution

Marine plastic pollution entangles, chokes, and poisons marine wildlife at enormous scale, creating chronic welfare harm across thousands of species.

Key Facts

An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean annually
Over 700 marine species are known to be affected by marine plastic through entanglement or ingestion
Entangled animals including sea turtles and seals face drowning, strangulation, and starvation
Microplastics have been found in marine organisms from the surface to the deepest ocean trenches

Welfare Considerations

Marine plastic welfare harm is both acute and chronic. Entangled animals suffer from constriction injuries that worsen as animals grow into embedded plastic, starvation when plastic restricts feeding, and drowning when air-breathing species cannot surface. Plastic ingestion causes gut blockage, false satiation, and toxin accumulation. Ghost fishing gear — lost fishing nets — continues catching marine animals indefinitely. The welfare harm of marine plastic is ongoing and cumulative. Reduction at source — preventing plastic from entering the ocean — is the only solution, supplemented by targeted removal of the most harmful ghost gear from sensitive habitats.

What You Can Do

Reduce single-use plastic consumption and properly dispose of all plastic to prevent ocean entry
Participate in coastal and waterway cleanups to remove plastic before it reaches marine environments
Advocate for extended producer responsibility legislation that makes plastic producers fund collection
Support organizations removing ghost fishing gear from marine habitats