Turtle death highlights debris threat

The creature, which had died by the time it came ashore in the far north of the state, was examined by Australian Seabird Rescue, which rescues and rehabilitates both birds and marine animals.

Rochelle Ferris, the rescue organisation’s general manager, told ABC North Coast NSW TV there was “no question” that ingestion of the pieces had caused the turtle’s death.

The incident illustrated “how much plastic is in our oceans”.

Sea turtles are thought to ingest plastics after mistaking them for sea food such as plankton, shelled creatures and, in the case of plastic bags, small fish or squid.

Recent research, added Ferris, suggested that some 36 per cent of sea turtles are affected in some way by sea debris, whether by ingestion or entanglement in old nets, lines and cordage.