At least 267 species of marine animals worldwide are affected by plastic marine debris, including 86% of all sea turtles, 44% of all sea bird species and 43% of all marine mammals. These animals may become entangled in fishing lines, drift nets or plastic packing straps.  The debris may strangle or suffocate the animal, or cut into the skin leading to severe wound infections or amputations of tails, flippers and flukes in marine mammals.

Some animals confuse plastic bags, rubber, balloons and confectionery wrappers with prey and ingest them.  Turtles frequently eat clear plastic bags, confusing them with jellyfish, their common prey, and sea birds eat polystyrene balls and plastic buoys, confusing them with fish eggs and crustaceans.

Table 1: Showing number of years it takes for litter to break down in the marine environment.

Toxic substances in plastics can also cause death or reproductive failure in fish, shellfish and other wildlife. Plastic film and other debris which settles on the bottom of the sea floor can suffocate immobile plants and animals. The debris may also wrap around living coral, smothering the animals and breaking up their coraline structures.

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