A new study is linking sick seabirds with the amount of plastic they’ve ingested.
Marine biologist, Boris Worm spends a lot of time around the ocean. He often picks up little pieces of plastic along the shore.
“Things like tampon applicators, or even spoons, lighters, picks, straws, little pieces of plastic, little pieces of insulation or Styrofoam,” says Worm.
Unfortunately, it's only the tip of the iceberg. Researchers say the oceans are becoming choked with plastic, and so are the creatures who find their meals there.
The study suggests that nine out of 10 seabirds have eaten plastic, mistaking it for food.
“When seabirds are eating things like this, the problem is it can become lodged in their system. Also these things can accumulate toxins from the water up to 1 million-fold,” says Worm. “Plastic, unlike some other things like metal for example, or paper, doesn't degrade. It stays there for centuries. This means it's a persistent polluter, much like pesticides were in the 1950s.”
This is a global problem. An estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic finds its way into our oceans each year. The study predicts that, by the year 2050, 99 per cent of all seabird species on earth will be eating plastic if things don’t change.
Susanna Fuller is the marine conservation coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre.
She says if plastics are in birds, they're bound to be in other animals.
“The oceans are still our largest source of wild protein, and if it's in seabirds it's in fish,” says Fuller.
Experts says the best steps to take to protect our ocean species is to recycle plastic whenever possible and to be mindful of what you are buying and try to find non-plastic alternatives for disposable items, especially.
“Never, ever use anything with small beads of plastic that might make your face smoother. Don't use those,” says Fuller.
Worm says people got by without plastic 50 years ago and they can do it again.
“Just the question is are we willing to?” asks Worm
With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Ritchie
