How Does It Effect Marine Life?
Effects On Marine Life
The plastic accumulation in the pacific ocean kills as many as 1 million marine animals and birds every year. Animals can mistake the trash for prey and unfortunately consume it. Animals like dolphins and whales can get caught in fishing nets or lines and cause them to drown. It isn't only marine animals that can be affected by the patch, humans are too. Microplastics have been discovered in almost half of the most important species in global fisheries. This means there's a possibility we are also eating trash. The image to the left is a picture of an albatross' stomach contents, and as you can see, its all various types of trash. |
To the right, you can see a turtle that is tangled in a fishing net. Its almost impossible for the turtle to get out on its own. Like mentioned in
the previous paragraph, not only turtles can get tangled like this but dolphins, whales, sharks, etc. Just by fishing nets alone, more than 650,000 marine animals die every year.
the previous paragraph, not only turtles can get tangled like this but dolphins, whales, sharks, etc. Just by fishing nets alone, more than 650,000 marine animals die every year.