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Globally, more than 240 wildlife species, including whales, are known to have ingested plastic, which can result in internal injuries and death. A recent study of marine life found that flexible plastic like plastic bags and packaging is responsible for the largest proportion of deaths from debris, primarily due to gastric obstructions. Whales are not the only species to be harmed by plastic debris. Dolphins, sea turtles, seabirds, and fish around the globe cannot escape it either, according to the study's review of hundreds of scientific articles.

For many years, I have researched sperm whales, and admit they are my absolute favorite animals. Often referred to as the "elephants of the sea", sperm whales, like their terrestrial counterparts, live in highly social and complex matriarchal societies. They feed on squid, spending 70% of their lives foraging in deep waters. Plastic debris is hitting this species particularly hard. One stranded whale had ingested 135 items-the highest number recorded for this species. These were predominantly plastic bags, which can look like squid to a whale. Whales and dolphins that die from debris have been observed swimming with difficulty in the days leading up to their deaths, which may increase their risk of being struck by ships or boats. For this reason, researchers think that death resulting from plastic may be more common than is currently being reported.

One of the most damaging types of marine plastic pollution is abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear- commonly called "ghost gear." About 10% of the world's ocean plastic pollution is made up of plastic-based fishing nets and rope. Every year, 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises get accidentally entangled in nets and lines and die a slow and painful death through suffocation, starvation, or exhaustion.

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Whales and the plastics problem | Stories | WWF

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Globally, more than 240 wildlife species, including whales, are known to have ingested plastic, which can result in internal injuries and death. A recent study of marine life found that flexible plastic like plastic bags and packaging is responsible for the largest proportion of deaths from debris, primarily due to gastric obstructions.

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Drive the Change. Make a Pledge

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We made it. We depend on it. Now we're drowning in it.

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This global issue affects us all. Every action matters and together we can make a lasting impact.

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slideshow

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Find out how pollution can hurt animals and what you can do to help.

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Ditch microbeads

Don't use face wash or toothpaste with microbeads. (If the ingredients label lists polyethylene or polypropylene, the item likely contains microbeads.) These tiny plastic beads go down the drain, eventually flowing to rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There they can be mistaken for food by fish and sea turtles-a dish that could be deadly.

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Ditch microbeads Don't use face wash or toothpaste with microbeads. (If the ingredients label lists polyethylene or polypropylene, the item likely contains microbeads.) These tiny plastic beads go down the drain, eventually flowing to rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There they can be mistaken for food by fish and sea turtles-a dish that could be deadly.

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Plastic free guide

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Students will learn all about ocean plastic pollution and what actions they can take to help protect our oceans!

Want to teach your students about ocean plastic pollution but don't know where to start?

No problem! Fill out the form below to request Sea Smart's free teaching resources, including a lesson plan, educational video, and presentation slides.

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Vous souhaitez enseigner à vos élèves comment préserver les océans de la pollution liée aux plastiques mais vous ne savez pas par où commencer ?

Pas de problème ! Complétez le document ci-dessous afin de pouvoir recevoir des ressources gratuites, incluant un plan de cours, une vidéo pédagogique et un diaporama de présentation.

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Students will learn all about ocean plastic pollution and what actions they can take to help protect our oceans! Want to teach your students about ocean plastic pollution but don't know where to start? No problem! Fill out the form below to request Sea Smart's free teaching resources, including a lesson plan, educational video, and presentation slides.

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Podcast

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Julie and her daughter, children's author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too!

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Julie and her daughter, children's author and educator Emma Walton Hamilton, invite you into their library to read their favorite children's books. Every story comes to life with sound, music and activities. Authors, kids and other special guests chime in, too!

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The Ocean Cleanup has been trying out a system for removing plastic from the sea. After running into several problems, the group has got the system up and working.

"I am very proud to share with you that we are now catching plastics," the group's founder, Boyan Slat, says. He spoke to reporters in the Netherlands on October 2.

The Ocean Cleanup system is a floating barrier × barrier HERO IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES an object that blocks movement from one place to another (noun) The garden was surrounded by a barrier to keep deer from eating the berries. . It uses a giant screen that hangs below the water's surface. The screen traps pieces of plastic as they float by. Marine animals can swim safely underneath.

The barrier didn't work well when it was towed out to sea last year. It floated at the same speed as the plastic it was meant to catch. Since then, an underwater parachute has been added. This slows down the barrier so it can catch the faster-moving plastics. Other fixes were made to prevent plastic from flowing over the top of the barrier.

The device is being used in an area of the Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Some 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic have collected there. The pollution harms animals. It also gets into the food chain. Slat hopes to get half of the trash cleaned up by 2025.

The next challenge is to make the barrier bigger and stronger, so it can gather plastic for a year, after which a ship will carry the trash away. "If the journey to this point taught us anything," Slat says, "it is that it's definitely not going to be easy."
Stop and Think! What questions would you ask Boyan Slat if you were to write an article about the Ocean Cleanup system? How would you come up with interview questions?

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The Ocean Cleanup has been trying out a system for removing plastic from the sea. After running into several problems, the group has got the system up and working. "I am very proud to share with you that we are...

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How Big The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Really Is

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The following article includes paid advertising content from American Express.

Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the oceans. Oceans produce over half the world's oxygen, cover 70 percent of the Earth's surface, and serve as the primary source of food for more than 2.6 billion people. Yet, despite our dependence on the oceans for survival, nearly eight million metric tons of plastic waste (roughly the equivalent of five bags of trash on every square foot of coastline) enters the world's oceans every year.

To combat the critical threat posed by marine plastic pollution, American Express has partnered with Parley for the Oceans ' global network on projects designed to eliminate plastic waste.

"At American Express we are committed to backing our customers, colleagues, communities, and what they care about most," says Doug Buckminster, American Express Group President, Global Consumer Services. "That's why we are taking action to help preserve the fragile and essential ocean ecosystem and doing our part to care for the oceans that we all share."

Adds Parley for the Oceans founder, Cyrill Gutsch, "The oceans give us life, we give them plastic. Every second breath we take is generated by the oceans, yet we are destroying them, and ourselves, at an unprecedented rate. They make it possible for us to live here. It is our responsibility to protect them - and it's a survival imperative."

As part of its partnership with Parley, American Express is evolving its operations to embody the Parley AIR Strategy (Avoid. Intercept. Redesign) towards plastics. American Express recently replaced single-use plastics with reusable or compostable packaging and utensils in all its cafeteria operations in the United States and removed single-use plastic in its Centurion ® Lounges globally. The company is also introducing the first American Express Card recycling program and committed to pursue zero waste certification for its New York City headquarters.

In addition, American Express has contributed nearly $2 million in grant funding to Ocean Conservancy and National Geographic Society to support coastal cleanups and environmental education and leadership programs.

"It is estimated that plastic kills as many as one million sea creatures annually," Buckminster adds. "As a large corporation with global presence, we can use the power of our brand to raise awareness and shed light on this important issue of marine plastic pollution."

American Express will kick off its commitment to protect the oceans through redesigning its products with a new version of the company's iconic American Express Green Consumer and Corporate Cards, which will be available to consumers later this year. Made primarily with Ocean Plastic ® - which Parley produces using shredded and upcycled plastic debris collected from beaches and coastal communities - the new Cards will be an industry-first made primarily with Ocean Plastic ® by Parley.

"Ocean Plastic ® allowed us to put marine plastic pollution in the global spotlight," says Gutsch, adding that Parley sees the key to ending marine plastic pollution not in recycling, but in the redesign and replacement of harmful materials, methods, and thinking.

In addition to implementing the Parley AIR strategy into its operations, American Express has taken other steps towards improving its environmental footprint. In 2018, for example, American Express became a CarbonNeutral ® company, powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and American Express colleagues worldwide participated in annual company-sponsored river and ocean cleanups.

"A major component of the American Express effort to prevent plastics from entering the oceans is encouraging global Card Members, colleagues, and partners to take part in the movement," Buckminster says.

That's why now, in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, American Express hopes to build even wider awareness of the threat of marine plastic pollution through its #BackOurOceans social media campaign.

"We've been inspired by all of the innovative work Parley has done to rally brands and consumers to change their behavior and reduce their daily use of plastic," Buckminster adds. "As part of our mission to combat marine plastic pollution, we are launching our #BackOurOceans campaign on Instagram to inspire our Card Members, consumers, and partners to help us in our efforts to clean up our beaches together in partnership with Parley."
Want to get involved? One easy step is to head to @AmericanExpress or @Parley.tv Instagram page to help #BackOurOceans. In the comments of the #BackOurOceans post, explain why you #BackOurOceans or tag friends who you want to get involved. For every comment made from 9/16-9/23, @AmericanExpress will partner with @Parley.tv to remove 2 lbs of plastic from beaches and coasts, up to 1 million lbs.
Go to amex.co/BackOurOceans to learn more about what American Express is doing to address marine plastic pollution and to discover how you can get involved.

This content is brought to you by our partner. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic or its editorial staff.

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The following article includes paid advertising content from American Express. Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the oceans. Oceans produce over half the world's oxygen, cover 70 percent of the Earth's surface, and serve as the primary source of food for more than 2.6 billion people.

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Explore Hidden Plastics Harming our Oceans

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Explore Hidden Plastics Harming our Oceans

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Explorer Classroom | Hidden Plastics with Imogen Napper