1.4 billion pounds of marine debris (or human trash) enters the ocean every year, harming thousands of marine animals. Items such as plastic bags, balloons, and fishing line can be accidentally eaten or become wrapped around an animal’s body causing injury or death. Dolphins in coastal regions such as Sarasota Bay, Florida, are impacted by a variety of (sometimes bizarre!) debris items. For example, Scrappy was found with a men’s bathing suit wrapped around his body that was cutting deeply into his flippers, threatening his life. Fortunately, the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program was able to remove the bathing suit, saving him from further harm. Since his release, Scrappy has been seen over 100 times and appears to be in good health. Success stories like Scrappy’s are rare, however, and other marine animals interacting with marine debris often do not have such a happy ending.
You can help keep wild dolphins like Scrappy safe by following these simple steps:
1) Properly dispose of your trash and recycle.
2) Participate in local beach cleanup efforts.
3) Share the information you learned in this video with your friends and family.
To learn more, visit www.sarasotadolphin.org
