Turtles trapped in plastic forced to drag lethal cargo through seas until they die, study finds

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Turtles trapped in plastic forced to drag lethal cargo through seas until they die, study findsplastic-turtle_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqK8oq_TXSPAJ0t21oESloXRkCIv3505E63jNjQF1Hma4.jpg
Loggerhead turtle trapped CREDIT: BBC, BLUE PLANET II
Sarah Knapton, Science Editor, 12/12/17

Hundreds of marine turtles die every year after becoming entangled in rubbish in the oceans while others are forced to live attached to debris bigger than their own bodies, a new study has found.

A world-wide survey of 106 marine experts by the University of Exeter found that 91 per cent of the entangled turtles are found dead with many having suffered serious wounds which have amputated limbs or chocked them to death.

Others that survived are forced to drag huge mounds of disgarded rubbish or debris with them until they die, experts said.

The survey found that more than 1,000 turtles each year are being killed after becoming tangled up in lost fishing nets, plastic twine and nylon fishing line, as well as six pack rings from canned drinks, plastic packaging straps, plastic balloon string, kite string, plastic packaging and discarded anchor line and seismic cable.

Turtles were also discovered entangled in discarded plastic chairs, wooden crates, weather balloons and boat mooring line.
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Leatherback turtle entangled in fishing ropes which increases drag CREDIT: KATE CHARLES

Professor Brendan Godley. Professor of Conservation Science and Director of the Centre for Ecology & Conservation at the University of Exeter’s Penryn campus and the lead author warned that as plastic pollution increases more and more turtles are likely to become entangled.
“Plastic rubbish in the oceans, including lost or disgarded fishing gear which is not biodegradable, is a major threat to marine turtles," he said.

"We found, based on beach strandings, that more than 1000 turtles are dying a year after becoming tangled up, but this is almost certainly a gross underestimate. Young turtles and hatchings are particularly vulnerable to entanglement.
"Experts we surveyed found that entanglement in plastic and other pollution could pose a long term impact on the survival of some turtle populations and is a greater threat to them than oil spills.

"We need to cut the level of plastic waste and purse biodegradable alternatives if we are to tackle this grave threat to turtles’ welfare.”


Hawksbill turtle entangled in fishing material constricting shell growth, Kaeyama Island, Japan

Prof Godley urged beach-goers walking over Christmas to collect plastic debris before it is washed back out to sea.
"It is something that can make a concrete difference, if everyone out on their Christmas walk picked up the rubbish they find on the beach.”

The Exeter University research team, which included two research students Emily Duncan and Zara Botterell who work in conjunction with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, surveyed experts who rescue and rehabilitate stranded turtles in 43 countries, to find out if they had discovered turtles which had been.
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Drowned Green turtle entangled in ghost nets in Uruguay

They also found 23 reports of entangled turtles in peer-reviewed publications, magazines, newspapers and reports.
84 per cent of the 106 experts surveyed, said they had found turtles tangled in rubbish, in the Atlantic, Pacific Caribbean, Mediterranean and Indian ocean coast.

Although they found more than 1,000 entangled turtles, they believe the real number is far higher because many animals will decay at sea.

Greenpeace UK's head of oceans Will McCallum said: "Nearly all species of turtle are endangered and yet research like this shows that the threats from human activity are only getting worse.

"The throwaway plastic we use for just minutes can turn into a floating trap for marine creatures like whales and turtles that lurks in our oceans for centuries.

"If UK ministers are truly feeling inspired after watching Blue Planet II, then a good place to start would be stopping plastics getting into the ocean by pushing ahead with plans for a deposit return scheme.”

The research was published in the journal Endangered Species Research.
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