While studying the impact of debris on marine life, researchers discovered that one in three loggerhead turtles in the Adriatic Sea has plastic in its intestine.
The sea floor is extremely shallow and serve as important feeding grounds for the turtles, but the area is also one of the most polluted in Europe.
It was discovered that turtles ingested plastic bags, wrapping foils, ropes, polystyrene foam and fishing line. The debris can weaken the animals because it takes up space in their stomach where they would digest food.
Reseacher Dr. Romana Gracan said:
“It is important to know more about the Adriatic Sea in order to help loggerhead turtles across the whole Mediterranean. The water temperature here suits them and because it is shallow they have the opportunity to feed on benthic [sea-floor] animals.
Loggerheads are opportunistic feeders which will eat almost anything that is in front of them and plastic stays around for a very long time in the sea. In the future we must think more carefully what we put in the sea.”
So true.