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Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created solid material that has deliberately or accidentally been released in seas or the ocean. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines , frequently washing aground, when it is known as beach litter or tidewrack.
Marine debris, also known as marine litter, is human-created solid material that has deliberately or accidentally been released in seas or the ocean. Floating oceanic debris tends to accumulate at the center of gyres and on coastlines , frequently washing aground, when it is known as beach litter or tidewrack.
Marine animals can experience internal injuries, lacerations, infections, starvation, and diminished swimming ability from injesting plastic or getting entangled in plastic garbage. [141] Additionally, floating plastics aid in the spread of invasive marine organisms, endangering marine biodiversity and the food chain . [ 142 ]
Marine life is one of the most important when one is affected by plastic pollution. Plastic pollution puts animals' lives in danger and is in constant fear of extinction. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles mistake plastic waste for prey; most then die of starvation as their stomachs become filled with plastic.
[1] [2] As of 2022, an estimated 51 trillion microplastics are floating in the surface water of the world's oceans. [3] A single 5mm piece of plastic can host 1,000s of different microbial species. [4] Some marine bacteria can break down plastic polymers and use the carbon as a source of energy. Microbes interacting with the surface of plastics.
In addition to all these impacts, the marine debris and beach litter pose dangers to wildlife on the beaches and marine ecology. [20] Many beach pollutants such as fishing gears and nets or oil spills jeopardize many sea animals including sea turtles , seabirds, and dolphins , and can cause serious injuries or death. [ 16 ]
Litter is a type of human impact on the environment and remains a serious environmental problem in many countries. Litter can exist in the environment for long periods of time before decomposition and be transported over large distances into the world's oceans. Litter can negatively affect quality of life.
Some long-lasting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine animals. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] [ 50 ] Plastic attracts seabirds and fish. When marine life consumes plastic allowing it to enter the food chain, this can lead to greater problems when species that have consumed plastic are then eaten by other predators.