Turtles trapped in plastic forced to drag lethal cargo through seas until they die, study finds

 Sarah Knapton, science editor 

12 DECEMBER 2017 • 12:01AM

Hundreds of marine turtles die every year after becoming entangled in rubbish in the oceans while others are forced to live attached to debris bigger than their own bodies, a new study has found.

A world-wide survey of 106 marine experts by the University of Exeter found that 91 per cent of the entangled turtles are found dead with many having suffered serious wounds which have amputated limbs or chocked them to death.

Others that survived are forced to drag huge mounds of disgarded rubbish or debris with them until they die, experts said. 

The throwaway plastic we use for just minutes can turn into a floating trap for marine creatures that lurks in our oceans for centuries.Greenpeace UK's head of oceans Will McCallum

The survey found that more than 1,000 turtles each year are being killed after becoming tangled up in lost fishing nets,  plastic twine and nylon fishing line, as well as six pack rings from canned drinks, plastic packaging straps, plastic balloon string, kite string, plastic packaging and discarded anchor line and seismic cable. 

Turtles were also discovered entangled in discarded plastic chairs, wooden crates, weather balloons and boat mooring line.

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