Dead sea turtles were found in Jeju with plastic waste in their stomachs.
Researchers say the plastic may have been the cause of death.
Mike Laidman has the story.
[slug] Endangered green sea turtle found dead in Aewol
[slug] Necropsy performed at the National Institute of Ecology
Researchers at the National Institute of Ecology conduct a necropsy - an autopsy generally performed on animals - on a turtle found dead in Aewol, Jeju City.
INTERVIEW
Choi Seong-jun / Researcher, Chungbuk National University Lab
This is all trash.
<인터뷰 : 최성준 / 충북대학교 기생생물연구소>
"이것도 쓰레기다. 이것도, 얘도 쓰레기고."
The green sea turtle is registered as a globally endangered species.
The researchers found a plastic bag in the stomach of the animal, soon followed by a plastic label and some fishing net.
INTERVIEW
Choi Seong-jun / Researcher, Chungbuk National University Lab
If string - like a fishing net - gets caught in the intestines, the organs can get twisted.
<인터뷰 : 최성준 / 충북대학교 기생생물연구소>
"(그물 같은 끈이) 장에 길게 늘어져있는 경우, 장이 꼬이거나 중첩되는 원인이 될 수 있습니다."
[slug] 5-year-old turtle found with plastic, fishing net in gut
The sea turtle believed to be approximately 5 years old was found with 30 pieces of plastic waste in its gut.
[slug] 50 pieces of plastic found in gut of another turtle
50 pieces of plastic waste were found in the gut of another green sea turtle, with researchers suggesting the plastic may have been the cause of death.
INTERVIEW
Kim Il-hun / Researcher, Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea
We found some big pieces of waste in the stomach, but there is actually a large amount of micro plastics as well
<인터뷰 : 김일훈 / 국립해양생물자원관 생태보전연구실>
"사실상 엄청 큰 것들만 보이게 되는데 실제로는 훨씬 작은 미세플라스틱이 엄청 많이 있는 겁니다."
This is the first time that plastic waste has been found in an official necropsy of a green sea turtle living in Jeju waters.
[slug] 9 research institutes collaborating on the investigation
Nine research institutes, including the Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea and the National Institute of Ecology, have been collaborating to identify the cause of the animal's death since last year.
[slug] Plastic particles found in 60% of dead turtles
They have carried out necropsies on 38 dead turtles.
Plastic particles were found in 23 animals, or 60 percent of them.
INTERVIEW
Hong Sang-hui / Researcher, Inst. of Ocean Science & Tech.
The tragic necropsy results show that the trash that we, human beings, generate is eaten by sea animals on a regular basis.
<인터뷰 : 홍상희 / 한국해양과학기술원 남해연구소>
"실제로 사람들이 쉽게 쓰고 버린 쓰레기들이 바다로 와서 해양생물들이 먹고 있다는 것을 아주 극명하게 보여줍니다."
It is abundantly clear that Jeju’s waters are far from being free of plastic waste.
[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Kim Yong-min
The trash we so recklessly dump in the ocean not only pollutes the marine environment, but causes the countless deaths of so many creatures living in the sea.
Mike Laidman, KCTV