Research conducted across globe finds an estimated 80% of debris comes from land-based sources
Australian Associated Press theguardian.com 9 Aug 13;
Green turtles are swallowing plastic at twice the rate they did 25 years ago, according to a new study.
The finding is based on data collected across the globe since the late 1980s and analysed by researchers at the University of Queensland.
Study leader and PhD candidate Qamar Schuyler says green and leatherback turtles are eating more plastic than ever before and more than any other form of debris.
The ages of turtles and their habitats are also factors.
"Our research revealed that young ocean-going turtles were more likely to eat plastic than their older, coastal-dwelling relatives," Schuyler said on Friday.
Amazingly, stranded turtles found adjacent to heavily populated New York City showed little or no evidence of debris ingestion.
But all stranded turtles found near an undeveloped area of southern Brazil had eaten debris, Schuyler said.
"This means conducting coastal clean-ups is not the single answer to the problem of debris ingestion for local sea turtle populations," she added.
But she said it was an important step in preventing marine debris input into the ocean.
Schuyler said an estimated 80% of debris comes from land-based sources.
That fact showed how critical it was to manage man-made debris at every point, from its manufacture to the point of a product's consumption.
Saving turtles from debris
ECOS Magazine Science Alert 23 Aug 13;
Endangered green and leatherback sea turtles are swallowing plastic at twice the rate they did 25 years ago, according to a recent study published in the journal Conservation International by researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and CSIRO.
After analysing global research data from the past 25 years, the research team – including Denise Hardesty and Chris Wilcox from CSIRO's Wealth from Oceans Flagship – found that these two turtle species, in particular, appear to be eating more plastic today than ever before.
In fact, team leader Qamar Schuyler from UQ, said turtles ate more plastic than any other form of debris.
‘Our research [also] revealed that young ocean-going turtles were more likely to eat plastic than their older, coastal-dwelling relatives,’ Ms Schuyler said.
The study found that stranded turtles in areas with high concentrations of marine debris did not experience a correspondingly high probability of debris ingestion.
‘Amazingly, turtles found adjacent to the heavily populated New York city area showed little or no evidence of debris ingestion, while all of the turtles found near an undeveloped area of southern Brazil had eaten debris,’ Ms Schuyler said.
‘This means conducting coastal cleanups is not the single answer to the problem of debris ingestion for local sea turtle populations, although it is an important step in preventing marine debris input into the ocean.
‘Results from this global analysis indicate oceanic leatherback turtles and green turtles are at the greatest risk of being killed or harmed from ingested marine debris.
‘To reduce this risk, man-made debris must be managed at a global level, from the manufactures through to the consumers – before debris reaches the ocean.’
An estimated 80 per cent of debris comes from land-based sources, so it is critical to have effective waste management strategies and to engage with industry to create appropriate innovations and controls to assist in decreasing marine debris.
Related link
Global Analysis of Anthropogenic Debris Ingestion by Sea Turtles: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cobi.12126/abstract
