12 Species Victim to Water Pollution

12 Species Victim to Water Pollution

Where there was once pristine wilderness, there is now a littered cesspool of our plastic waste accumulation. From the gleaming top surface to the deep recesses below, plastic debris, from minuscule plastic microbeads to large and sinister ghost nets, are wreaking environmental catastrophe. Most significant victims of this pollution are the beautiful animals living in the ocean. The challenge of plastic threatening a whole host of marine species isn't a niche issue it's an international wide crisis that is messising with marine life across the globe. This article takes a look at the life of a dozen amazing sea creatures that are directly feeling the impact of this disposable culture and their life being threatened by it along with what we can do to help keep them safe too.

Sea Turtles

The most recognizable of the victims, sea turtles will often mistake plastic bags drifting on the surface of the ocean for one of their favorite foods jellyfish. If this plastic is ingested, it can result in death of digestion as a result of obstruction, poor nutrition and starvation. Furthermore, these animals are being drowned or suffer terrible injuries and amputations, usually from discarded fishing gear (also known as ghost nets). Sea turtles are all vulnerable or endangered species and plastic in the oceans is the biggest threat for them too.

Right Whales

Numbering just over 350 individuals, the North Atlantic right whale may be considered one of the rarest of sea creatures in the world today. These are very susceptible to becoming entangled in strong fishing nets and lines. Hauling around these substantial loads for months or years leads to fatigue, debilitating injuries, infections and a horrible slow death bookended by difficulty reproducing.

Hawaiian Monk Seal

This seal is found in Hawaiian island and they are very endangered. They are curious creatures and are frequently captured in the plastic strips contained in the packaging materials of various types of goods, in the nets used for fishing items. As they grow, this material contracts on their flesh and causes infection and amputation of their flippers, plus drowning.

Sea Birds

Also known as surface cleaners, seabirds eat what they think is a fish's egg, fish or pellets of food but they're actually choking down tons of plastic trash. One study cited that 90 percent of seabirds had plastic material within their stomachs. The sharp plastic shards used to surround the food that they provide to the baby chick can slice into their body and due to this, they can starve to death, die due to lack of water and dehydration. The evil inspired emblem for this catastrophe is the Laysan Albatross.

Whale Sharks

Whale sharks are very gentle filter feeders who siphon plankton and small fish as they swim along with their big mouths open. This type of feeding makes them vulnerable to microplastic waste (and larger plastic waste floating on the water surface). This plastic becomes highly toxic in our long run health because the toxins build up in an individual's body.

Humpback Whales

At times huge scale migrants tumble through the web they spin. They'll get trapped in fishing gears, crab pot line, etc., not to mention marine debris. This tends to cut them down, which means they'll drown, or suffer severe lacerations that make them unable to swim and feed, slowly starving to death.

Coral Reefs

Although it's not an animal, a coral reef is more of a living colony and it plays a major role in the life of the oceans. These plastic trash heaps smother the corals, robbing them of sunlight and oxygen content a behaviour that facilitates disease outbreaks. When compared to 4 percent for a sea otter with no plastic on the surface of the reef, a plastic item resting on the reef surface increased its likelihood of acquiring disease by a massive 89 percent. "Of course, this is threatening the entire ecosystem that the reef supports."

Sea Lions

Sea lion are fun and playful and another very common chum at the dinner table for entanglement. Bands and fishing nets also can tangle into their neck or body. The strangling wire's plastic fibers become taut as they continue to grow, eventually causing brutal and unnecessary death.

Manatees

These slow moving sea cows live in sea grasses offshore and in waterways and rivers flooded with plastic wastes. Plastic bags and other debris is easy prey for them and could cause fatal blockages in their intestines. As if that was not enough, propeller scars on boats increase wound infections they are also associated with maggots.

Fish

Microscopic plastic particles and plastic fibers are routinely consumed by myriad fish, from tiny anchovies to very large tuna. These arise in their digestive system and excrete toxic chemicals which will interfere with their reproductive systems. Bakken's discovery reveals the double threat this plastic poses to fish, as well as people who consume fish.

Dolphins

Despite the fact that dolphins are considered to be rather intelligent creatures, they are not excluded from threats that are connected to plastic. They can get caught in nets which will limit their movements and affect them when they try to resurface for air. I also found that many inshore plastic have ingested marine debris which is responsible for the terrible equation of plastic which causes internal damage and starvation for many marine animals.

Penguins

This is at places of breeding, molting, feeding, and for that matter, their death. .Eventually they get caught in plastic six pack rings and fishing line. Even worse, they are being born with plastic pollution and then passing it on to their offspring so they can starve to death.

Wave of Change Originates on Land

This is a bad situation that is not hopeless. Each plastic we do not take will not be another threat on the ocean. By doing so we can be a part of the solution Less single use plastic. Recycling/disposing all waste. Donating to nonprofits that do ocean clean ups and ocean change policy. Being able to make sustainable choices and purchasing and supporting sustainable seafood. The saga of these marine organisms in danger of plastic is a holding up to our decision. By reversing the plastic crisis, we can help keep these magnificent creatures not only alive, but prosperous by future generations. The fate and welfare of the ocean and themselves, are bound up with our own.