Lewis, S. (2020, November 19). A decade of plastic has entangled, choked and drowned over 1,500 endangered marine mammals in U.S. Waters, new report finds. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-pollution-entangle-choke-endangered-marine-mammals-oceana-report/

Almost 1800 endangered animals have been entangled in or have consumed plastics since 2009. Researchers say that this estimate is a minimum and that things are only projected to get worse. In fact, plastic production is expected to quadruple in the next few decades, increasing the amount of plastic in ocean waters. Oceana’s report on plastics’ effect on marine life revealed that 90% of the animals observed had consumed plastic. This consumption can lead to malnutrition, drowning, choking, or infections. Oceana urged the government to take action and for companies to offer plastic-free alternatives for their customers.

 

This statistic was shocking and devastating because these animals are already endangered. We have put them in endangerment through our destruction of their habitats and through other harmful practices, but we still continue to harm them with plastics. Although it would be difficult to remove all the plastics from the oceans, because there are so many, we must do our best to stop plastic production and stop discarding our plastics in the ocean. I thought it was valuable that Oceana, after conducting their research, used their findings to urge change in companies and in the government.