Plastic in Paradise: A Growing Threat
Each year, around 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean. That’s roughly one garbage truck per minute, dumping waste into the sea. From the surface to the seafloor, from remote coral atolls to deep-sea trenches, plastic has made its mark. The biggest offenders? Single-use plastics (like wrappers, straws, and water bottles), discarded fishing gear, and textiles that shed microplastics every time we wash our synthetic gym clothes. Basically, if it's cheap, convenient, and plastic, there’s a good chance it's on a one-way trip to the sea.
Welcome to the global plastic crisis—the damage it causes is devastating.
Turtles can’t tell the difference between plastic bags and one of their favorite foods—jellyfish.
Seabirds are among the hardest hit. Studies have found that over 90% of seabirds have plastic in their stomachs, often mistaking colorful fragments for fish eggs. That’s not sushi they’re snacking on—it’s bottle caps and broken bits of toys. It’s like eating a five-course meal made entirely of LEGO bricks. Unsurprisingly, this tends to go badly. The plastic builds up, leaving no room for real food, eventually leading to starvation. On the beaches of Bonaire, it’s not uncommon to find bits of plastic lodged among the wrack line where sanderlings and plovers forage—reminders that even the most pristine-looking shorelines aren’t immune.
Meanwhile, entire marine ecosystems are being altered by plastic. Coral reefs—already under siege from bleaching and disease—suffer additional stress when plastic settles on their branches. Bits of debris can introduce pathogens, cause tissue abrasions, and block sunlight. Some studies suggest plastic makes corals more than 20 times more likely to suffer from disease. That’s like trying to stay healthy while someone keeps smacking you in the face with a plastic bag. Not ideal. And because plastic doesn’t biodegrade—it just breaks into smaller pieces—it sticks around for centuries, cycling endlessly through the marine food web.
As divers, tour guides, and advocates for environmental protection, we also make an effort to remove any plastic polution we see on the reefs. Fishing line is very common and often difficult to untangle from corals.
For turtles, the danger isn’t just getting tangled—it’s also on the menu. Floating plastic bags look uncannily like jellyfish, one of their favorite snacks. Unfortunately, a bag doesn’t digest the way a jellyfish does. Instead, it clogs the turtle’s stomach or intestines, leaving little room for real food and sometimes causing fatal blockages. To a hungry turtle, it’s the ultimate case of “false advertising.”
So what can one person do? More than you might think.
Start by ditching single-use plastics wherever possible. Bring a reusable water bottle (it’s the new fashion statement), say no to straws unless medically necessary, and carry your own shopping bag like the eco-hero you are. Avoid products with microbeads (yes, those still exist), and buy clothing made from natural fibers if you can. Support businesses and organizations that prioritize sustainability, like those in Bonaire working to clean beaches and promote responsible tourism.
And while you're at it, make some noise. Ask your favorite companies to reduce their plastic packaging, support local cleanup efforts, and encourage policymakers to take action against plastic pollution at the source. Because the truth is: the ocean isn’t a trash can, and we shouldn’t treat it like one.
Plastic may last forever, but that doesn’t mean it should have a starring role in the ocean’s future. With a bit of effort, a dash of humor, and a healthy dose of responsibility, we can all help tip the scale back toward clean, thriving seas. And maybe—just maybe—give our sea turtles a little more space to glide free, snack on jellyfish (the real kind), and give plastic the cold, flippery shoulder it deserves.