As of early this year, there are an estimated 75-199 million tonnes of plastic in the oceans. Scientists believe that this number could rise exponentially by 2030, leading to further death of various types of marine life if something doesn’t change. While not an ideal situation, it is unfortunately true that certain species are at risk if this continues.

Sea turtles are one of the most famous examples of marine species harmed by pollution. They are especially in danger of excess waste from human activity. Six pack rings, straws and other plastic items that end up in the trash instead of being recycled have been known to choke them when they swim too close, and toxic metals can concentrate in turtles kidneys and livers, making them extremely vulnerable to diseases. 

Known for their bulbous heads and pale bodies, beluga whales face very high casualty rates due to pollution. Deceased whales are found often heavily saturated with high amounts of runoff chemicals from tankers. Due to these chemicals, the beluga whale actually has the highest rate of cancer of any wild mammal species on the planet.

Many seabirds like pelicans end up killed due to consuming things that they believe are food but are actually plastic and metal that their bodies cannot handle. Alternatively, they sometimes end up simply tangled in the pollution in the waters.

It may seem hopeless, knowing how much garbage is in our oceans, but anyone can help. Recycling plastics, conserving water to prevent runoff and fishing responsibly can go a long way in making a difference for our oceans.