Rubbish and debris entering into the marine environment become a more high profile issue after Australian researchers found more than half of the world's sea turtles have swallowed plastic or other rubbish. Research from the University of Queensland examined threats to six marine turtle species from an estimated 12 million of plastic that enter the world's oceans, finding approximately 52 percent of turtles worldwide have eaten debris, local media reported on Tuesday. The findings also found the east coasts of Australia and North America, Southeast Asia, southern Africa and Hawaii were particularly dangerous for turtles due to a combination of debris loads and high species diversity.

Half of world's sea turtles have swallowed plastic or other rubbish. (2015, September 16). Manila Bulletin, p. 6.