A whale, plastic and an incredible story

Notice the plastic of the fishnet shining in the sun, as they cut it more and more away from the dying whale that was completely trapped and couldn’t move anymore…

Humpback Whale Shows AMAZING Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets

Read more about how our plastic waste in the ocean is affecting marine life at whoi.edu/science:

Before the days of plastic, when fishermen dumped their trash overboard or lost a net, it consisted of natural materials — metal, cloth or paper that would either sink to the bottom or biodegrade quickly.

But plastic remains floating on the surface, the same place where many genuine food sources lie — and can remain so for 400 years. Plastic is durable and strong — precisely the qualities that make it so dangerous if it reaches the ocean.

But how would a syringe that a diabetic uses make it into the ocean? If plastic objects make it into the main sewer system (say, by being flushed down the toilet, or carried by the rain into a street drain), and the water treatment plants are overwhelmed by excessive rain, then those floating objects can float right out to sea.

Did you know that a plastic soda ring can take up to 400 years to biodegrade?

What you can do:

• Look for alternative materials or avoid excessive packaging when deciding on purchases. Use paper bags, milk and juice in cardboard, and cloth diapers. Insist on paper bags and glass bottles.
• Recycle. Many communities currently offer pick-up recycling programs for #1 and #2 plastics. Other forms of plastic may be accepted by a local recycling business. If your community doesn’t have a recycling program, contact your city or town hall to request one.
• Educate others about the problem of marine debris, enhancing “voluntary compliance through awareness.”