Turtles are dying in record numbers because of rubbish and plastic bags thrown into the ocean. A study conducted in Australia found that out of 100 dead sea turtles including loggerheads and green turtles found washed up on the coast of Queensland, over 35 percent of them died by ingesting rubbish or plastic bags.
Plastic bags are one of the main causes of turtle related deaths as bags resemble one of the sea turtles favorite foods, jellyfish. Mistaking the plastic bag for a jellyfish, turtles accidentally swallow the bags, and having downward facing spines in their throat which prevents them from regurgitating, the plastic gets trapped in their guts preventing food from going down. The turtle then slowly starves to death or succumbs to other causes of death such a toxicity caused by the decomposing rubbish, or a boat strike.
What is alarming is that globally the number of turtles dying each year could be in excess of 100,000 turtles. Plastics are the worst offenders due to the long periods of time required to break down, and marine life mistaking the trash as food, many animals over hundreds of years could be killed.
Plastic bags end up in the sea through several means; blown off a street from the mainland out into the ocean, or through a sewage system, or garbage bags simply thrown off a passing boat.
So the next time your out Scuba Diving and you spot that floating plastic bag underwater, think of the turtles, and help remove these serial killers of the sea.
*Photo credits: photos by post406, The Lightworks on flickr
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Plastic bags travel along rivers and streams and end up out at sea, littering the worlds oceans. Leatherback Turtles, the biggest member of the turtle family, come to UK waters and tragically they are increasingly mistaking these plastic bags for jelly fish, which are it’s only source of food. They can then suffocate on the bags. A UK based company has developed an alternative to the plastic bag and called it the ‘Turtle Bag’. They are fantastic ‘string’ bags.
Plastic bags are a hazard and Turtle Bags are a gentler alternative. Superstrong, natural fibres, biodegradeable, reusable, ethical and practical. Say no to plastic bags ! We stock them in our online shop and we ship them worldwide.