Why Plastic Kills Fish

Plastic kills fish, and this happens for very specific reasons. Starting with the fact that microplastic waste is mistaken for food by fish (the biggest confusion concerns plankton), and from there it can lead to to an intestinal or respiratory blockage. Then there's the damage related to chemical contamination: toxic substances that can also harm the bodies of people who eat the fish.

Index of topics

Microplastics mistaken for food

Fish, especially those swimming near the surface or feeding on plankton, can mistake small plastic fragments (microplastics) for food. When they ingest plastic, it can cause physical damage to their digestive system. Plastic fragments are not digested and can accumulate in the intestines, preventing the absorption of essential nutrients. This leads to malnutrition, fatigue, intestinal or respiratory blockage, and in some cases, even death.

Toxic chemicals

Plastic is not only a physical danger, but also a chemical one, and this alone would be a good reason to reduce its useDuring its slow degradation process, plastic can release toxic substances such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and other harmful chemicals. These substances can accumulate in fish, disrupting their endocrine and reproductive systems, and can sometimes be transmitted to those who consume the fish (including humans).

Pesticides and heavy metals

Even when plastic is not ingested, it can act as a “magnet” for other pollutants in the water, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and organic pollutants. These pollutants attach to the surface of the plastic, and when a fish ingests the material, it risks absorbing these toxic substances as well.

Respiratory blocks

In the case of larger fish or other marine creatures such as turtles and whales, plastic fragments can block the respiratory tract or digestive system. In some cases, Fish can become trapped in plastic items such as fishing nets, bags or containers, limiting their ability to swim or feed, eventually leading to death.

The destruction of marine habitats

Floating plastic can change the natural habitat of fish, Influencing the distribution of food resources and the availability of shelter. Furthermore, plastic can block sunlight and interfere with the photosynthesis of algae and aquatic plants, which are essential for the nutrition of many marine species.

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.

According to a World Economic Forum report which dates back to 2016, the overtaking is approaching: in 2050 in our seas, including those we frequent, we will have more plastic than fishBut in some areas it already is, like the North Pacific, where a third of fish ingest plastic waste before dying.

The most harmful plastics

In Australia four researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization they tried to compare different studies on theplastic pollution in the oceansAnd from this research it emerged that the plastics in the seas that most threaten marine life are:

plastic bags
nets and waste from fishing
rubber waste
balloons and balloons
tools

In this study, have been analyzed well 1.328 causes of death of marine animalsThe killers of the seas are certainly the plastic bags which can cause intestinal blockages in whales, dolphins and turtles.

Small and medium-sized fish, on the other hand, are plagued by fishing nets, plastic waste, and rubber. Rubber is also the cause of death for many seabirds.

Countries that dump the most plastic into the sea

Only in the Mediterranean do they end up 730 tons of waste every day, And much of it is plastic. The European Parliament reports that 27% of it comes from waste from fishing and aquaculture.

In Italy, from the sea to the beaches and along the coasts, we are surrounded by plastic. In particular, as emerges from the investigation Beach Litter 2022 by Legambiente conducted in 62 points of the coast, they result 834 pieces of waste every 100 meters of beach, of which 84% is plastic and 46% is disposable items. Plastic tops the list, followed by glass and ceramics, metal, paper, and cardboard. And then there are plastic bags, shopping bags, and envelopes.

From a study published by Science instead it is clear that over 5 million Of the 8,8 million tons of plastic dumped into the seas each year, five Asian countries produce them:

China
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Indonesia

With a simple calculation, you can understand how these 5 countries are responsible for 60% of the plastic dumped in the oceans.

Closing the Top Ten, so to speak, are developing countries located between Africa and Asia. But we must not forget that the USA is the largest producer of plastic overall. In 2016, for example, it exported more than half of the waste collected. approximately 2 million tons of plastic waste to business partners, nearly 90 percent of which are unable to dispose of it properly.

This results in accumulated garbage between open-air landfills and dispersion into the environment Due to a lack of civic sense. It is then atmospheric agents, rivers, and certain environmental conditions that transport all this waste into our seas—the plastic that is drowning the marine world and which we could drastically reduce. Meanwhile, as we accustom ourselves to lifestyles that involve less plastic consumption, we could drastically reduce marine litter of this material. doing well separate collection thanks to which plastic is recycled and not wasted and transformed into highly polluting waste that is toxic to fish.

What is meant by plasticosis

Ornithologist Alex Bond, with some colleagues from the National History Museum in London, have coined a new pathology that affects animals, especially those that frequent the sea: the plasticosis. It is a disease, which leads to death, linked to the effects of small pieces of plastic (the deadly microplastics) on internal tissues. The definition was developed by examining the stomachs of thirty shearwaters that died after ingesting plastic on Lord Howe Island, 6 kilometers off the coast of Australia. In 90 percent of cases, the shearwaters had inflamed, swollen stomachs with widespread fibrosis. All due to injuries related to the ingested pieces of plastic.

Why plastic kills fish