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November 06, 2006

Pacific wildlife 'threatened by sea of plastic'

A vast vortex of plastic rubbish the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean threatens sea creatures that get tangled in it, eat it or ride on it, says a Greenpeace report.

Because plastic does not break down the way living material does, ocean currents and tides have carried it thousands of miles to an area between Hawaii and the United States west coast, says the study by the environmental group.

The report, Plastic Debris in the World's Oceans, said at least 267 species, including birds, turtles, seals, sealions, whales and fish, have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of debris in the swirling mess.

Eighty per cent of it comes from land and 20% from the oceans, the report says, with four main sources: tourism, sewage, fishing and waste from vessels.

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