In Costa Rica, a turtle’s suffering puts spotlight on need to reduce use of plastics

Roughly 8 million tons of plastics end up in the world’s oceans each year, according to a University of Georgia study. (Flickr / thebiggoodbye)

August 20th, 2015 (EFE) The plight of a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle that biologists in Costa Rica rid of a plastic straw stuck in its nose highlights the need to reduce the use of the synthetic material, since 8 million tons of plastics are dumped in the oceans each year, biologist Nathan Robinson told EFE.

Robinson and Christine Figgener, of the Leatherback Trust, posted a video on social media showing biologists using pliers to pull a 15-centimeter (six-inch) straw from the sea turtle’s nostrils.

The pain, blood and a groan emitted by the turtle make for disturbing viewing.

The animal, found in Costa Rica’s Pacific waters, was harmed by pollution of its habitat.

“This video is so compelling because it conveys the suffering we are causing,” Robinson said. “That sliver of plastic that hardened inside the turtle’s nose might have been used by any of us, causing suffering for an innocent turtle.”

The British biologist said that in his travels across oceans, he had seen turtles eating plastic many times, with fishing hooks snagged in their mouths, fins or internal organs, and turtles with their shells deformed by tangled plastic.

“There is a problem with the use of plastics in Costa Rica, but it is not only in this country, it is a problem around the world,” Robinson said. “Oceans have a lot of plastic pollution and this affects turtles, fish, whales, birds, practically all species living in the oceans.”

A University of Georgia study of solid waste collected in 192 coastal countries in 2010 estimated that the oceans receive roughly 8 million tons of plastics each year.

The study concluded that, unless measures were taken to improve waste management and the recycling of plastics, by the year 2025 the oceans would have received a cumulative 155 million tons of plastics.

“It is urgent to learn to live in a more sustainable way for the sake of nature,” Robinson said. “Small changes, such as recycling and reducing the use of plastics, will help ease the consequences of plastics reaching the seas.”

The biologist said Costa Rica, a country known around the world for its biodiversity, had good programs in place for the protection of some species, but the Central American nation still faced challenges since materials like ice cream boxes, bottles, lids and glass abounded in its waters.