Pollution is a major issue that threatens marine ecosystems throughout the world, and one of the main sources of marine pollution is plastics. The problem of plastic pollution in oceans is a serious issue because of the negative impacts that it has on the marine ecosystems and the abundant living organisms found within these areas. The introduction of plastics into the natural environments of marine species often causes considerable damage to these creatures, as plastic debris is a known culprit of injuries and even the deaths of many marine animals. For instance, plastic bags are commonly mistaken by animals, both in marine ecosystems as well as on land, as a type of food “especially when the bags carry food residues, are brightly coloured …show more content…
One way is that rivers that lead into the oceans may carry any littered plastics from land through its currents start into the marine ecosystems, as well as any sewage drains that may carry plastics (“Investigating the effects of plastic in the ocean ecosystem,” 2012). Another common way that plastic debris enters marine ecosystems is through storms and the wind that sweep litter from the beach into the ocean (“Investigating the effects of plastic in the ocean ecosystem,” 2012). Finally, ships or offshore platforms are another source of plastic pollution in marine environments, as any garbage may accidently make its way into the ocean or it may even be dumped into the water, although such an action was banned in the year 1988 by the International Maritime Organization (“Investigating the effects of plastic in the ocean ecosystem,” 2012). Although these are some of the known sources of marine plastic pollution, it is not known for sure what exactly is the main cause of this problem, however it is definite that this pollution issue does indeed bring much harm to marine …show more content…
Sperm whales are one of the most common victims of plastic debris out of any whale species, as “they easily mistake debris for squid, their main food source” (“Marine debris deadly to whales and dolphins,” 2015). In the case of dolphins, from the years 2002 through 2013, it was estimated that at least 35 bottlenose dolphins became stranded due to marine debris while others suffered from swallowing plastic debris (“Marine debris deadly to whales and dolphins,” 2015). Finally, different species of seabirds often mistake plastic for food, and in some cases actually “ingest it indirectly through their prey” (“Marine debris deadly to whales and dolphins,”