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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Marine & Wildlife Reproductive & Development Sign in to save

Large amounts of marine debris found in sperm whales stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016

Marine Pollution Bulletin 2016 105 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Bianca Unger, Elisa L. Bravo Rebolledo, Rob Deaville, Andrea Gröne, Lonneke L. IJsseldijk, M.F. Leopold, Ursula Siebert, Jérôme Spitz, Peter Wohlsein, Helena Herr

Summary

Researchers examined 22 of the 30 sperm whales that mass-stranded along the North Sea coast in early 2016 and found marine debris — including fishing nets, ropes, plastic packaging, and a car part — in nine individuals, documenting the extent of large-item debris exposure in an apex marine predator even when ingested items were not the direct cause of death.

Body Systems
Reproductive

30 sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the coasts of the North Sea between January and February 2016. The gastro-intestinal tracts of 22 of the carcasses were investigated. Marine debris including netting, ropes, foils, packaging material and a part of a car were found in nine of the 22 individuals. Here we provide details about the findings and consequences for the animals. While none of the items was responsible for the death of the animal, the findings demonstrate the high level of exposure to marine debris and associated risks for large predators, such as the sperm whale.

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