Death of the Turtles 

By Emily 

I'm here to bring to your consideration an urgent issue that needs our immediate attention: the devastating impact of plastic waste on our marine ecosystems. In particular the heartbreaking toll it's taking on our beloved sea turtles. It is essential that we understand the significance of the situation, and act collectively before it is too late. 

Every year, over 1200 turtles die in Australia as a result of our laziness. Have you ever seen a turtle with a plastic straw poking out of its nose? It touches its brain. Exactly how we feel during a covid test. How would you like to have that uncomfortable feeling all the time? Picture, if you will, the serene beauty of our oceans—the crystal-clear waters, the vibrant marine life, and the graceful movements of sea turtles. These magnificent creatures have been around for millions of years, surviving countless challenges that Mother Nature has thrown their way. Yet, the emergence of plastic pollution is a challenge they might not be able to overcome without our intervention. 

Plastic straws are killing our turtles and that's not the only plastic killer out there. Humans consistently use single use plastics everyday. Do you ever forget your bags when shopping? By using a reusable shopping bag, you can decrease the amount of resources used on plastic bag production, disposal and protect the environment from plastic pollution. Why not save money and marine life at the same time! The outlook for turtles that eat plastic is bleak: for 22% ingesting just one plastic item can be a death sentence. We are devastating our marine ecosystem with every plastic purchase we make. 

What do you like to do on a Friday night? Watch the footy? Have a few beers? Well the plastic around the top of your 6 pack often ends up around a turtle's neck. Six pack rings are deadly and can be easily avoided by using cardboard rings instead as they are biodegradable. We can reduce the devastation on our marine ecosystem by making better choices. 

It's urgent that we act now to save our turtles. Sea turtles often mistake floating plastics for food. They can choke, sustain internal injury or die. Plastic creates pockets of air in their gut, making diving difficult. This needs to change now. Three changes that could be life saving are investing in reusable containers, bringing your own cutlery, and picking up rubbish when you see it. Rethink plastic and save our turtles.