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This article is about how plastic debris and rubbish gets deposited into the ocean and affect sea turtles.
In this article written by the American Sea Turtle Conservancy, it is stated that more than one billion kilograms of plastic is currently in the ocean and that the number is rapidly increasing yearly.
As stated in the article, 80% of all the aquatic trash is firstly found on land, from beaches to expressways. When there is rain, the rubbish and debris would wash into storm canals that channels the water into rivers and streams. These rivers and steams mostly flow into the ocean, depositing the rubbish and debris into the ocean. Oil fracking platforms that collect fuel for the production of plastics may also cause oil spills, endangering turtles and other sea animals immediately.
In the article, there are also some examples of governments doing their part in preventing further plastic pollution in the ocean. One example stated in the article is the Irish Government. Since 2002, the Irish Government has implemented taxation on plastic bags, lowering plastic bag usage by an estimated 90%, proving its effectiveness in preventing plastic bag usage.
After reading this article, I have discovered the fact that most oceanic plastic debris originate from land and not from dumping plastics into the ocean directly. I have also discovered the fact that governments are doing their best to reduce plastic usage and save the environment.

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Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Marine Debris

The Problem: Over 1 million marine animals (including mammals, fish, sharks, turtles, and birds) are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean ( UNESCO Facts & Figures on Marine Pollution). Currently, it is estimated that there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world. It is expected that another 60 billion pounds will be produced this year alone. In some areas, the buildup of plastics is estimated to span 5 million square miles. To put it into perspective, that is the equivalent of the area of the U.S. plus India. How does that much plastic get there? Eighty percent of the plastic debris comes from land. It washes out to sea from our beaches, streets and highways. It flows out through storm drains into streams and rivers. It flies away from landfills and into the stomachs of sea turtles everywhere. Most of the debris is recognizable. Plastic bags, bottles, balloons, degraded buoys, packaging materials and food wrappers all contribute to the debris. While large plastics are a substantial pollutant, over time these plastics will break down into smaller, more toxic pieces. Not only are these small plastics more easily ingested, but they also act as hosts for invasive species, carrying them to other regions of the ocean exponentially increasing the damages caused by plastics. In addition, certain plastic contains toxic additives that are distributed into the water and enter into the food chain.

Many turtles, that have been killed by consuming debris, had plastic bags or fishing line in their stomachs, some as small as half of a fingernail. Sea turtles are especially susceptible to the effects of consuming marine debris due to their bodies' own structure. They have downward facing spines in their throats which prevent the possibility of regurgitation. The plastics get trapped in their stomach, which prevents them from properly swallowing food. Also, many sea turtle rehabilitation facilities commonly deal with "bubble butts," turtles that float as a result of trapped gas caused by harmful decomposition of marine debris inside a turtle's body. The gases cause the turtle to float, which leads to starvation or makes them an easy target for predators.

Species Affected: All species of sea turtles, adult green turtles to a lesser degree, are affected by marine debris. Juvenile green turtles are heavily affected by marine debris.

The Solution: Education is important to solving marine pollution. The public can get involved in this issue by:

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastics;

Use reusable cloth bags instead of plastic bags when shopping;

Support local, regional and nationwide bans on plastic grocery bags;

Don't litter. Instead, volunteer at local beach clean-up events;

Make sure to properly secure your garbage to prevent any fly-away plastics;

Don't release balloons into the air. They travel far and end up in our oceans being consumed by sea turtles that mistake them for food.

Case Study: Cities and countries all over the world are now considering or implementing bans on plastic bags. Canada, Australia, the U.S. and Europe, for example are all considering bans or other measures to reduce consumption. In Ireland, plastic bags have been taxed since 2002, estimating a reduction in plastic bag use by almost 90 percent. And in January 2008, China's State Council put a nationwide ban on plastic bags. The cabinet has demanded all stores go plastic bag-free after June 1. Not only will this reduction have a positive impact on the environment, but it is estimated that it will save China's 37 million barrels of oil.*

*Drilling for oil also causes sea turtles harm in the form of pollution from spills.
Related links:

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Information About Sea Turtles: Threats from Marine Debris - Sea Turtle Conservancy

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The Problem: Over 1 million marine animals (including mammals, fish, sharks, turtles, and birds) are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean ( UNESCO Facts & Figures on Marine Pollution). Currently, it is estimated that there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world.

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This article is about how sea turtles are being critically affected by sea trash, specifically plastic sea trash.
In this article by the Sun Herald, a statement by the American Institute for Marine Mammal Studies has revealed that hundreds of turtles that have washed up on beaches internationally have died due to plastic debris being heavily dumped into their habitats.
This article also suggests on methods to prevent plastic debris from being dumped into oceans, some of which include reducing plastic usage and participating in beach cleanups locally.
After reading this article, I have discovered the full impact that sea trash has on marine animals, especially sea turtles. I have also discovered ways on how to help these magnificent but endangered sea creatures.

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Be careful what you do with plastic trash. It can end up affecting the ocean ecosystem and could take the life of a dolphin or sea turtle.

The evidence can be found on our own Coast beaches, where a loggerhead sea turtle carcass recently washed ashore with plastic stuck in its naval cavity.

To help drive home the point, Dr. Debra Moore, attending veterinarian at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, on Thursday wheeled the large turtle on a cart out of the necropsy laboratory. The lab is where Moore determines how marine animals that wash ashore have died.

Moore plucked out a piece of plastic deeply embedded in the turtle's nasal cavity. The plastic had been there so long it eventually was forced to take the shape of the animal's nose.

Hundreds of turtles wash up on Coast beaches every year, according to IMMS. Many of those, executive director Moby Solangi said, have died from the effects of plastic debris in their habitat. IMMS, the state's only marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation center, and the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine are now tracking numbers of marine life affected by plastic.

Solangi called the conference on the anniversary of the BP oil spill, and just two days short of Earth Day.

"This happens every day," he said of plastic damaging marine life. But "it's one that can be fixed," he said.

Plastic and the marine ecosystem

It takes a plastic bottle 450 years to break down and a plastic bag 10 to 20 years, according to the U.S. National Park Services, so plastic debris collects in the ocean. In fact, there's an estimated 268,940 tons of plastic in the Earth's ocean, according to the Earth Policy Institute.

Plastic that enters the water affects the entire marine ecosystem.

Turtles that prey on jellyfish are easily confused by plastic bags in the water. Dolphins also swallow plastic bags and other debris, which can damage their digestive system and obstruct their airway.

The effect of plastic is so widespread, traces of plastic have been detected in the seafood we eat.

When bottles and plastic bags do break down, microscopic organisms called zooplankton eat the microplastics that result. Small fish eat the zooplankton and in turn are eaten by larger fish, which can end up on our dinner plates.

Even oysters can be affected, Moore said.

More than 600 species of marine life are known to suffer directly from plastic pollution, according to IMMS.

What can be done?

There are several ways to keep plastic out of the environment.

"The big thing to remember is to follow the three Rs," Moore said. "Reduce, reuse and recycle."

More everyday ways to help out:

▪ Avoid using disposable plastics, as well as personal-care products containing "microbeads."

▪ Buy food in bulk and bring reusable bags to get groceries home.

▪ Bring your own garment bag to the dry cleaner.

▪ Participate in beach cleanups.

"It is critically important to recognize what is happening in our environment," Solangi said. "We can do something about this. We created it and we can make a difference."

Great American Cleanup

Host: City of Biloxi

Location: Point Cadet Plaza

Time: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Activities: Help clean up trash

Earth Day family celebration

Host/Location: Pascagoula River Audubon Center

Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $2

Annual Earth Day celebration

Host: C ity of Gautier

Location: George Martin City Park

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Activities: Farmers market, free eco-tours, vendors and children's activities that promote learning about the environment, and local vendors teaching about efficient, money-saving and earth-friendly practices

Earth Day Pier Walk

Organizer: Ken Combs Jr.

Location: Ken Combs Pier, Gulfport

Time: 6 p.m. Saturday

Activities: Benefits Feed My Sheep; attendees encouraged to bring canned goods. Includes ceremony with speakers, free seedlings, bonfire, walk on the pier in memory of loved ones.

Earth Day Planting

Host: Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation

Location: Hiller Park, Biloxi

Time: 9-11 a.m. Saturday

Activities: Plants and tools provided. Refreshments, prizes, fun and free seeds to take home. Explore the garden; join Horticulture for Humanity and receive free birdhouse. The new children's splash pad and playground are now open.

Earth Day March for Science

Organizer: University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park

Location: Harper McCaughan Town Green, Long Beach

Time: 2-7 p.m. Saturday

Activities: March will proceed to USM's Fleming Education Center auditorium, where speakers and entertainment are planned.

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mississippi state university college of veterinary medicine

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How your plastic trash may be killing sea turtles and other marine life

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Be careful what you do with plastic trash. It can end up affecting the ocean ecosystem and could take the life of a dolphin or sea turtle. The evidence can be found on our own Coast beaches, where a loggerhead sea turtle carcass recently washed ashore with plastic stuck in its naval cavity.