Hundreds of plastic items found inside stricken turtles

A research team, led by the University of Exeter and the North Cyprus Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT) have made some concerning discoveries about plastic pollution in the ocean.

They examined 135 loggerhead turtles either washed up or killed as “bycatch” (accidentally caught) in fishing nets off northern Cyprus.

And a Halloween toy was among hundreds of plastic items found in the animals' guts.

More than 40% of the turtles contained 'macroplastics' (pieces larger than 5mm), including bottle tops and the Halloween toy – a rubber witch’s finger.

Dr Emily Duncan from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, said:

“It’s likely that turtles ingest the plastics that mostly closely resemble their foods.

“We still don’t know the full impacts of macroplastic on turtles’ health, but negative effects could include causing blockages and limiting nutrition.”