The consequences of ocean waste
Ocean litter
A juvenile plays and gets wrapped in ocean plastic waste
Seals use their mouths, noses and flippers to investigate or play with objects, pushing their heads through lengths of fishing nets, fishing lines, rope coils, plastic hoops – essentially Frisbees with holes in the middle (see press release), and other plastic waste. Seals are naturally curious and often become unwitting victims of ocean waste; discarded debris can tangle around necks, muzzles, flippers or bodies. Juveniles are particularly at risk; as the young seal grows, an object around its neck will begin to cut into the flesh, which can lead to infection, and movement becomes impaired, which hinders speed and alerts prey that the seal is attempting to catch, leading to ever decreasing health, often restricting airways and even resulting in death by starvation.
Entanglement
A length of discarded nylon fishing gear has become securely fastened around this juvenile female’s neck – impairing movement and cutting deep. Helping her is still impossible and highly improbable. She has been observed intermittently for over two years, but the nylon tightens and cuts deeper as she grows, severely impacting her health and well-being.
Approximately a five-month-old juvenile with fishing gear around her neck.
A pup and cow being impacted by industrial waste on a breeding cove.
Please help:
'If you can please pick up ocean litter'
Please pick up any ocean waste, such as discarded plastic and fishing gear and place it on the ground well above the maximum spring high tide. Secure any pieces that are likely to be blown away. Every collection helps, however small or large.
Ocean litter