Michael Gove has vowed to take action over plastic pollution in the oceans after being “haunted” by Sunday night’s episode of Blue Planet.
In the episode, which drove some viewers to tears, a pilot whale carried the carcass of its dead baby around for days. Sir David Attenborough, narrating the episode, suggested the calf was poisoned by its mother’s milk, which could have been contaminated.
Also in the show was a baby turtle, which crew members saved after it became tangled in a discarded net.
The secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs has already made some moves to tackle plastic pollution, announcing in June that microbeads, found in cosmetics and toiletries, will be banned this year.
The tiny pieces of plastic enter the world’s oceans when washed down our sinks, where they are then swallowed by wildlife.
Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into oceans each year, posing a serious threat to the natural and marine environment. Experts estimate it is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and over 100 species of sea birds.
The Blue Planet crew have spoken of the traumatic experiences they have faced, seeing marine life struggling against plastic pollution.
Read the full article at The Telegraph.
Tags: Documentary, Nurdles, Plastic, Protection, Whales