Consumption isn’t the only consequence of plastic. Fishing
gear that isn’t properly discarded can instantly become a
floating threat to sea turtles and other marine life. “Scabbers,”
a loggerhead sea turtle currently undergoing rehabilitation at
the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center,™ found
this out firsthand. Back in May, beachgoers on Kiawah Island
came across this 104-pound loggerhead struggling to surface
in a tidal pool. Closer examination showed that Scabbers was
missing his front left flipper (likely due to a predator attack)
and was tethered to fishing gear wrapped around his body.
Once Scabbers was admitted to the Sea Turtle Care Center,
the severity of his wounds was fully assessed. His front right
flipper was swollen, a sign of dangerous constriction due
to the entangled fishing line. Care Center staff carefully cut
Scabbers free from the line which had made its way across all
appendages and administered cold laser therapy, a treatment
that uses specific light wavelengths to help accelerate the
healing process and decrease inflammation. After a bout
of infections and a strict regimen of antibiotics, Scabbers is
finally cruising on the road to recovery.
Scabbers’s story is a powerful reminder of what our actions
can cause. So, what can we do?
For starters, we must take action at the source and make
substitutions for single-use plastic. Skip or switch out plastic
straws for reusable steel or glass options. Store a reusable
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grocery tote in your purse or car. Change to steel and fabric
containers instead of plastic snack bags. Bring your own water
bottle wherever you go.
We can also work together to keep plastic from “going
coastal.” Plastic ends up in the ocean from all areas, not
just beachside communities. It takes up space in landfills or
escapes into the environment from trash sites and garbage
trucks, collecting along roadways, sidewalks, and parks. It
is carried by wind and rain to the nearest waterway, often
traveling through storm drains, where most will eventually
make its way into the ocean, threatening all marine life in
its wake.
Don’t discount the power of community clean-up
efforts, either. According to the Litter-free Digital Journal,
a citizen science project of the South Carolina Aquarium,
nearly 100,000 pieces of discarded plastic have been found
throughout the state since the start of 2018—and that’s just
what citizen scientists have spotted and collected. That’s
nearly 100,000 times we stopped plastic and debris from
causing damage to sea turtles and other marine life!
By shifting certain lifestyle choices, sharing responsibilities,
and spreading awareness, we can all become positive stewards
of the environment. Stop by the Aquarium to see Scabbers
and other ocean life and witness firsthand who your efforts
can help! NK
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