Tangled plastic and fishing gear found in pilot whales stranded in Hawaii
A new study by University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers shows that nearly 23% of short-finned pilot whales that stranded over 13 years in the main Hawaiian Islands ingested several pounds of plastic ropes, netting, fishing gear and plastic bags discarded in the ocean.
A University of Hawaiʻi research study reveals that nearly one in four stranded short-finned pilot whales in the main Hawaiian Islands consumed substantial amounts of human-made plastic debris over the past 13 years. Led by the UH Health and Stranding Lab within the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, the research examined the stomachs and digestive systems of 13 pilot whales and found that three adult males had amassed between 1.8 to 5.4 kilograms of tangled plastic, primarily consisting of fishing gear and sheet plastics like garbage bags and plastic wrap.
The debris, estimated at 6,283 to 35,543 individual pieces larger than 5 millimeters, accounts for about 23% of the total pilot whales stranded in the region. Although the whales were in good body condition and the plastic did not directly cause their deaths, the study highlights the dangers of plastic pollution, which can lead to nutritional stress and toxic chemical exposure in marine mammals.
Experts suggest that the whales' diet of squid and their proximity to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch may increase their risk of ingesting marine debris.
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