Plastic pollution claimed the life of yet another marine animal last September — this time a baby reef shark off the coast of the Grand Cayman island in the Caribbean.
What happened?
According to Dr. Johanna Kohler, a marine biologist and a shark project officer for the Cayman Islands Government, the animal was just a month old and died from suffocation after getting stuck in a plastic slip-on sandal.
The shark had wedged itself in the footwear, crushing the middle portion of its body and severely restricting its movement.
"This stopped the water flow over the gills and therefore oxygen uptake," the Cayman Islands Department of Environment said in a Facebook post.
The autopsy that Dr. Kohler performed also revealed that the shark only had some sand and a tiny worm in its stomach, implying that starvation could have played a role in its demise.
Why is the shark's death concerning?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers Caribbean reef sharks an endangered species, with its population trending in the wrong direction.
Stay warm all winter long with the Apple of intelligent space heaters Kelvin is the Apple of space heaters, designed for energy efficiency and maximum comfort. It's completely silent and intelligently controlled, with setup taking just 5 minutes. Built from premium materials like aluminum and glass, Kelvin works beautifully as a full-home heating system or as the perfect solution for that one room that never feels warm enough. |
This particular shark's death is just one of the thousands of marine animals that die every year from plastic waste in the ocean.
According to UNESCO, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die annually because of plastic ingestion or entanglement.
Mortality statistics might continue to rise, as UNESCO estimates that 8.8-11 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year, adding to the 50-75 trillion pieces of macro and microplastics already in the sea.
What's being done?
Plastic Free Cayman is an environmental conservation nonprofit that organizes beach cleanup events and raises awareness about the harmful effects of plastic consumption on the Cayman Islands.
TCD Picks » Stasher Spotlight
💡Stasher's reusable food storage options make it easy and affordable to live life with less plastic
"Global plastic pollution is horrific and we are not immune to it on our paradise island," says the program's website. "It's going to take a global effort and local action to make a difference."
Proactive measures that can be taken at home include replacing single-use plastics like water bottles and lunch bags with reusable, eco-friendly alternatives. While the upfront cost might be a little higher, the long-term effects for your wallet and the environment far outweigh that.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
Cool Picks
