fish eating a plastic bag surrounded by plastic items in the ocean

Fish

Along with pretty much any marine mammal that brings in water through its gills, are increasingly at risk to microscopic plastic debris. A study performed at the University of Exeter UK suggested that microscopic marine debris could take up to six times as long for the animal to rid themselves of in comparison to ingesting the debris orally.

dead whale washed up on a beach with plastic fulling its mouth

Whales

Plastic may be ingested by whales mistakenly while feeding on prey, or may enter their digestive system from inside of prey that has previously fed on plastic. In 2018, a sperm whale stranded in Indonesia and its necropsy revealed that it had ingested over 13 pounds of plastic, including bags and flip-flops.

turtle eating piece of plastic

Sea Turtles

Humans messed up sea turtle populations. Now many wild sea turtle populations are endangered. The turtles think plastic bag and other unrenewable plastic products are jellyfish and comsume then; the after effect after consuming the plastic is a feeling of fullness even through they are straving and will eventually died if not medical assitance is given.

dead sea bird cut open to reveal stomach full of plastic

Sea Birds

As you can see in this photo this sea bird mistoook a bunch of plastic for food and ate it until it died. This happens to many birds all over the ocean and the population of different sea birds is also declining due to this.