Of Poisons and Plastics: An Overview of the Latest Pollution Issues Affecting Marine Mammals

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants were recognised decades ago as significant threats to wildlife including marine mammals. Efforts to control certain pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and associated successful declines in environmental loadings followed. However, it has very recently become apparent that PCBs continue to pose a significant threat. This is especially the case for certain cetacean populations in Europe which now seem to be heading towards extinction because of PCBs-induced reproductive failure. The effects of such pollution on marine mammal health are a significant welfare concern, and urgent efforts to stem any further movement of PCBs into the oceans are now required. In addition, marine debris is a fast-growing threat to marine wildlife, bringing with it severe welfare concerns for some marine mammal populations. This is only set to get worse as more discarded plastics enter the oceans; again urgent action is advocated.