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How does plastic pollution affect sea life?
Plastic Pollution affects the different marine life in different ways. Take sea lions for example. Baby sea lions are known for being playful, curious animals. When they see the plastic they go to play with it. They end up with the plastic rings used for beers, and sodas around their necks. The rings limit their movement so the baby sea lions can't hunt for their food and swim. They die of starvation if the rings aren't cut off soon enough. Sea turtles and whales mistake plastic bags for their favorite snack jellyfish. They can choke and die from ingesting the bags. In December 2009, seven sperm whales that beached at Foggia, Italy died from plastic ingestion.
Plastic Pollution affects the different marine life in different ways. Take sea lions for example. Baby sea lions are known for being playful, curious animals. When they see the plastic they go to play with it. They end up with the plastic rings used for beers, and sodas around their necks. The rings limit their movement so the baby sea lions can't hunt for their food and swim. They die of starvation if the rings aren't cut off soon enough. Sea turtles and whales mistake plastic bags for their favorite snack jellyfish. They can choke and die from ingesting the bags. In December 2009, seven sperm whales that beached at Foggia, Italy died from plastic ingestion.
Sea birds are also victims of plastic ingestion. They see the pieces of plastic floating in the water below them. To them it looks like fish floating in the water. These animals cannot tell the difference between the plastics and the fish. They eat more and more pieces and because they can't digest the plastic, the plastic gives them the feeling of being full. Because plastic is not biodegradable it does not breakdown and the sea birds can't eat anything else and end up starving to death. This has been proven that it is indeed the plastic that is killing due to the environmentalists cutting open the stomachs of the sea birds found dead on the shores inside finding tons of plastic. Among it pieces of plastic bottles, lighters, etc.
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How does plastic in my home affect animals in the ocean?
If you walk outside and look against the curb there is a giant rectangle cut into the sidewalk. This is called a catch basin. There is usually a warning on top that states "No Dumping: Storm Drain Leads to the Ocean" (see picture above). That is one of the ways trash gets into the ocean. LITTER. Litter is your trash that you dump on the ground instead of putting in a trash can. When there's wind, rain, or your watering your grass even, that pushes the garbage towards the storm drains and down. The trash then goes on a journey to the ocean where it pollutes the habitat of the marine life living there. If your garbage can is overflowing outside your house and there's loose trash or no bag holding it at all inside the garbage can, that can also go into the the storm drains. Throwing cigarette butts on the ground, things you do sometimes out of habit can be you contribute to the continuing rise of pollution in our oceans.
What can you do?
You as a human being can do so much to save the lives of these defenseless animals. Try to do simple things like think before you throw that cigarette, chip bag, or even gum wrapper on the ground. Make sure all trash in garbage cans are in a bag sealed so there is no way it can get out and onto the ground. Spread the word with family, friends, and neighbors. Getting rid of litter can do so much. It may seem like a small change but litter is the leading cause to trash in our oceans. You yourself can start by STOPPING THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN YOUR HOME. This cannot be stressed enough. A study done by the Ocean Conservancy in 2015 showed that plastic bags are the most identifiable pollutant in the ocean second to cigarette butts. They not only pollute the ocean but forests,creeks,rivers,and wildlife reserves as well. You could also urge your family and friends to stop. Use canvas bags, buy a dozen of them and keep them in your car for when you go to any store. If you want to get out there and make a hands on difference, VOLUNTEER. There are MANY MANY organizations to volunteer for and get out there. You can do beach cleanups , and care for the animals (wash them, untangle them, nurse them back to health, etc.). You can also donate to these organizations. Many of them are nonprofit and could use all the financial help they can get.
Click here to donate to Marine Animal Rescue which rescues seals, sea lions, and other marine life.
Click here to learn about the National Marine Life Center which is a nonprofit organization that rescues animals.
Click here volunteer for Heal the Bay which does beach cleanups and focuses mainly on the Santa Monica Bay
Click here to donate to Heal the Bay which is another nonprofit organization
Click here to volunteer for Friends of the Ballona Wetlands thats also does beach cleanups and has been restoring the wetlands for many many years and does tours of the wetlands that the family could enjoy.
If you walk outside and look against the curb there is a giant rectangle cut into the sidewalk. This is called a catch basin. There is usually a warning on top that states "No Dumping: Storm Drain Leads to the Ocean" (see picture above). That is one of the ways trash gets into the ocean. LITTER. Litter is your trash that you dump on the ground instead of putting in a trash can. When there's wind, rain, or your watering your grass even, that pushes the garbage towards the storm drains and down. The trash then goes on a journey to the ocean where it pollutes the habitat of the marine life living there. If your garbage can is overflowing outside your house and there's loose trash or no bag holding it at all inside the garbage can, that can also go into the the storm drains. Throwing cigarette butts on the ground, things you do sometimes out of habit can be you contribute to the continuing rise of pollution in our oceans.
What can you do?
You as a human being can do so much to save the lives of these defenseless animals. Try to do simple things like think before you throw that cigarette, chip bag, or even gum wrapper on the ground. Make sure all trash in garbage cans are in a bag sealed so there is no way it can get out and onto the ground. Spread the word with family, friends, and neighbors. Getting rid of litter can do so much. It may seem like a small change but litter is the leading cause to trash in our oceans. You yourself can start by STOPPING THE USE OF PLASTIC BAGS IN YOUR HOME. This cannot be stressed enough. A study done by the Ocean Conservancy in 2015 showed that plastic bags are the most identifiable pollutant in the ocean second to cigarette butts. They not only pollute the ocean but forests,creeks,rivers,and wildlife reserves as well. You could also urge your family and friends to stop. Use canvas bags, buy a dozen of them and keep them in your car for when you go to any store. If you want to get out there and make a hands on difference, VOLUNTEER. There are MANY MANY organizations to volunteer for and get out there. You can do beach cleanups , and care for the animals (wash them, untangle them, nurse them back to health, etc.). You can also donate to these organizations. Many of them are nonprofit and could use all the financial help they can get.
Click here to donate to Marine Animal Rescue which rescues seals, sea lions, and other marine life.
Click here to learn about the National Marine Life Center which is a nonprofit organization that rescues animals.
Click here volunteer for Heal the Bay which does beach cleanups and focuses mainly on the Santa Monica Bay
Click here to donate to Heal the Bay which is another nonprofit organization
Click here to volunteer for Friends of the Ballona Wetlands thats also does beach cleanups and has been restoring the wetlands for many many years and does tours of the wetlands that the family could enjoy.