By Reese Mattner

Plastic pollution has a giant impact on marine life. Over 800 different species have been impacted by plastic being thrown into the ocean. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals can all be tangled in plastic or have consumed plastic. Humans are also being affected by this too. When different animals in the ocean digest plastic some of it can turn up into seafood that we eat. Therefore we are consuming plastic when we eat seafood.

Many sea turtles have been affected by plastic. Sea turtles eat plastic thinking they have eaten enough and are full, but all they have consumed is plastic. Since this happens a lot of them die from starvation. Reproduction has slowed down because of people littering on nesting beaches. Turtles will not hatch or grow because the temperature is being changed by plastic build up on beaches. 

There have also been a million seabirds that have been killed due to plastic. Studies show that 60% of seabirds have eaten plastic. Studies also show that 60% will increase to 90% by the year 2050. Dolphins are very intelligent, therefore they are smart enough to not consume plastic that is floating in the ocean. Dolphins eat their prey, while their prey has consumed plastic so dolphins are still impacted by plastic. Coral reefs that come in contact with plastic have an 89% chance of contracting a disease. One hundred million marine life animals have been killed each year because of plastic waste.

When land animals eat debris it can get lodged into their throat and die. Plastic can also cause harmful chemicals that soak into soil killing and infecting plants. Plastic, waste, and garbage are taking over all of the oceans and land. Many animals are either impacted or die from plastic in the ocean. Humans are also impacted greatly.