Ocean pollution poses a serious threat to marine mammals, primarily through the presence of harmful debris.
Key Impacts on Marine Mammals
One significant way ocean pollution affects marine mammals is through physical harm caused by plastic debris. As highlighted by research, marine mammals can encounter plastic pollution in their environment, leading to dangerous interactions.
Marine mammals can become entangled in or ingest plastic debris. This interaction with items like discarded fishing nets, plastic bags, or microplastics has severe consequences for their survival and well-being.
Severe Consequences of Plastic Pollution
The entanglement in or ingestion of plastic debris can lead to a range of fatal outcomes for marine mammals. These include:
- Suffocation: Entanglement in nets or plastic can restrict breathing.
- Starvation: Ingesting plastic can block digestive tracts or create a false sense of fullness, preventing adequate nutrition.
- Drowning: Entanglement can trap animals underwater, preventing them from surfacing to breathe.
These impacts demonstrate the direct and life-threatening dangers that plastic pollution, a major component of ocean pollution, presents to marine mammal populations.
