“Plastic floating in one country’s territorial waters may have entered the ocean thousands of miles away. Considering that a quarter of the plastic seabirds are exposed to is found in international waters, it’s clear the problem doesn’t belong to any one country” But to all. We need international cooperation to develop effective plastic policies and truly eliminate plastic pollution. “
Jo Royle, founder and CEO of Common Seas, said: “Most people will never see the plastic gyres floating in the ocean, but our wildlife does. As we continue to To understand the detrimental effects of plastic, we have to imagine our homes surrounded by mountains of plastic, and imagine what it’s like for wild animals in their habitats to be bewildered by this foreign material.”
plastic lesion
Another recent study A new disease caused by plastic with devastating effects on seabirds has been identified: plastic poisoning. Scientists define it as the combined effects of ingesting plastic. For example, when a bird’s stomach is damaged, it is impossible for it to function properly as a digestive organ or as a barrier to viruses and bacteria. Other organs, such as the liver, can also be severely damaged by exposure to nanoplastics, leading to chronic inflammation.
Dr Jennifer Lavers, who contributed to both studies, said it was timely to learn more about when and where marine animals are most at risk of encountering plastic at sea. “We lack a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of plastic on species and ecosystems, but what we do know is deeply worrying.”
pressure
Bethany Clark, Seabird Science Officer at BirdLife International, said: “Many of the birds in our study are already affected by a variety of threats, including climate change, capture by fishing gear, competition with fisheries and invasive species.
“While the population impacts of plastic exposure are unknown for most species, many petrels and other marine species are already at risk and continued exposure to hazardous plastics can increase these pressures. Coordinated action to stem the flow of plastic pollution now requires Protect seabirds and other marine life around the world.”
The study was published in natural communication And is supported by more than 200 researchers working in 27 countries. It is the result of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative Conservation Partnership Fund, sponsored by the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco.
the author
Yasmin Dahnoun is the author of ecologist. This article is based on BirdLife International and Fauna and Flora press releases.
BirdLife International It is the largest conservation partnership in the world. We have over 115 BirdLife Partners worldwide and growing. All of BirdLife’s work is based on scientific research.
flora and fauna is a conservation charity that protects the diversity of life on Earth. For the survival of species and habitats, the planet and people.
