When most people think of sea turtles, they likely think of these majestic creatures swimming along the shorelines or nesting on tropical islands. But it’s important to remember that these animals are endangered and that their populations are in decline. A big reason for this is the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean.
One of the ways that sea turtles are killed by plastic is when they eat it. They mistake it for food and ingest it, which can cause fatal internal blockages. Additionally, sea turtles can be killed when they become tangled in plastic waste or when they get caught in nets made from plastic.
There are many ways to help protect sea turtles from harm and reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean. One important step is to avoid creating waste in the first place. When you’re done with your groceries, try not to throw away any packaging or wrappers.
How Many Sea Turtles Are There?
The world’s oceans are home to more than 1,500 species of sea turtles, including the iconic green and hawksbill turtles. Unfortunately, the world’s seas are also home to an estimated 100 million tons of plastic debris, which can kill or injure sea turtles and other marine life.
In a study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin earlier this year, researchers found that over a third of all sea turtle deaths each year can be attributed to plastic pollution. Of the 100 million tons of plastic debris estimated to exist in the world’s oceans, an estimated 8 million pieces are responsible for killing or injuring sea turtles.
How Many Sea Turtles Die From Plastic?
There are over five billion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans, and each year an estimated 1000 sea turtles die from getting tangled in plastic. The majority of this plastic comes from our throwaway culture, where we often just throw away things we don’t need anymore instead of recycling them. This problem gets even worse when plastic finds its way into the ocean, where it becomes a hazard to marine animals.
Plastic is one of the most common materials found on Earth and it can be found everywhere from the sea to our land. It’s often used in items such as food packaging, straws, and even car parts. Unfortunately, when these plastic items are disposed of improperly, they can end up in the environment where wildlife such as sea turtles can get caught up in them.
A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that at least 1 percent of all loggerhead sea turtle deaths are due to plastic ingestion. In total, the study found that between 1989 and 2017, there were 918 known cases of marine turtles dying from ingesting plastic. Of those cases, 87 percent involved loggerheads.
Causes Of Death Of Sea Turtles And Plastic Pollution
Sea turtles are known to consume large quantities of plastic, which can cause health problems and death.
Some of the health problems that sea turtles can suffer from as a result of consuming plastic include blockages in their stomachs, intestinal blockages, and poisoning. In some cases, these health problems can lead to death.
Other causes of death for sea turtles include being hit by boats, getting entangled in fishing nets, and getting sick from eating contaminated food.
How Does Plastic Affect Sea Turtles?
Every year, an alarming number of sea turtles die from plastic waste. Take a look at the facts to find out how this problem affects these endangered creatures.
Plastic is made up of many pieces that can get stuck in a turtle’s throat or digestive system. These tiny pieces can cause blockages, which can quickly lead to death. Large pieces of plastic can also break apart and become choking hazards for marine life.
While it’s not clear exactly how many sea turtles die from plastic pollution each year, it’s clear that this problem is only going to get worse if we don’t take action. We need to start by reducing the amount of plastic we use and recycle, and we can also help prevent sea turtle deaths by urging companies to stop using single-use plastics.
How To Save Sea Turtles From Plastic?
We can all do our part to help prevent sea turtle death by reducing our use of plastics. Here are a few ways you can start:
- Recycle your old materials: If you have materials like old clothes, newspapers, or food packaging that you no longer need, consider donating them to local recycling centers. Not only will this help reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment, but it will also help support local businesses.
- Avoid buying products made with single-use plastics: When possible, try to buy products that are made with recycled materials or sustainable materials. This will help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and in the ocean.
- Educate yourself and your friends about the dangers of plastic pollution: The more people know about the dangers of plastic pollution, the better it’ll be for everyone. Keep in touch with other people who are trying to reduce plastic waste and make small changes in their lives that add up.
- Join an organization or movement: There are many wonderful organizations around the world working hard to create change and prevent plastic from polluting our oceans. You can always donate your time to these groups by volunteering at a local event or donating money so they can continue educating people about the environment.
- Learn about beach cleanups: If you live near a beach, consider joining an organized cleanup every few months where volunteers collect as much trash as possible from shoreline areas. This will keep plastic out of local ecosystems and can also help educate people on the dangers of plastic.
- Shop at local businesses that use recycled materials: Local shops can make a big difference in how much plastic trash ends up in our oceans. Since most plastic products are non-recyclable, look for businesses that use other materials like glass or metals (both of which are more easily recycled).
- Invest in reusable bags and containers: Plastic bags and disposable containers are a huge problem, every year they wind up in our oceans and there’s no easy solution to avoid this! Instead, consider investing in reusable bags and containers (in case you forget your reusable bags) or using paper ones instead.
Why It Is Important To Count The Number Of Sea Turtles That Die From Plastic?
The world’s oceans are home to over 100 million marine creatures, including some of the most iconic and endangered species such as the sea turtle. Sadly, a large number of these creatures die from plastic pollution each year.
The problem with plastic is that it doesn’t decompose. Instead, it breaks down into tiny pieces that pieces of plastic can be ingested by animals, including sea turtles. Once these animals eat the plastic, it can cause serious health problems such as intestinal blockages or even death.
In fact, it’s estimated that every year, around 1,000 sea turtles die from eating or getting tangled in plastic debris. That’s a lot of turtles! But we can do something about it. By reducing the amount of plastic we use and recycling what we do have, we can help protect these amazing creatures and keep our oceans clean.
In Summary
It’s estimated that every year, more than a million sea turtles die from plastic debris. This includes garbage bags, bottle caps, and other small pieces of plastic that can easily become entangled in the animals’ bodies and cause fatal injuries.
At this rate, it’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish! Fortunately, there are ways to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution we create, and impactful steps we can take start with using reusable shopping bags when possible and avoiding single-use plastics whenever possible.