Laysan Albatross & Plastics
The Problem
In the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, on a tiny island 1,000 miles from the nearest big city, many Laysan albatross chicks die each year because their bellies are full of bottle caps, toothbrushes and other plastic. One study found that 97.5% of chicks had plastic in their stomachs. Many people think that the biggest source of pollution in the oceans is oil spilled from ships, but most marine pollution is litter that starts out on land.
To read more, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium website:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/oceanissues/plastics_albatross/