Marine species often become entangled in larger debris,
leading to “injury, illness, suffocation, starvation, and
even death” (NOAA, 2014). Smaller fragments can be mistaken
for food and eaten, causing malnutrition, intestinal
blockage and death (Figure 1). When marine animals eat
plastic, harmful chemicals move up the food chain. Ingestion
of and entanglement in marine debris by marine animals
has increased by 40% in the last decade. Furthermore,
plastics can transport invasive species and toxic
substances over great distances.