This blog shares the research experiences and findings conducted at University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW faculty and students) in conjunction with Plastic Ocean Project. Earlier posts share open-ocean sampling and adventures in the North and South Atlantic, the South Pacific and the North Pacific Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Outreach and education is the primary purposes to bring global awareness to an issue that has reached a crisis level in the marine environment.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Answer is Yes, Sea Animals Are Eating Our Plastic
Bermuda BREAM: Bites on Marine Plastic Trash
Thad Murdoch Chief Scientist, BREAM: Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Assessment and Mapping Programme, posted this image and others that illustrate the distinct bite marks I observed on plastic marine debris while I was in Bermuda. If you had any doubt that fish are eating our plastic, this should help you realize that not only are the smaller fish eating the photo degraded plastic particulates, but larger marine animals and reptiles also confuse plastics for food. For millions of years, things that floated were most often edible so why wouldn't they mistake plastic for food. Check out Thad's blog. You'll be amazed. Bermuda BREAM: Bites on Marine Plastic Trash
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