#4Seabirds
Seabirds tell us a lot about the health of the ocean because they rely on the ocean’s continuing health and biodiversity to survive. Much like the “canary in the coal mine” warns of danger to come, declining seabird populations are one of the first indicators that the ocean is unwell.
The world’s seabird population has dropped dramatically in the last 60 years – an indication of the huge impact humanity is having on the ocean ecosystem. Many species are on the brink of extinction; the albatross family is especially imperiled, with 15 of 22 species threatened with extinction.
The speed at which seabird species are declining is another indicator that our efforts to remove plastic from the ocean are not only necessary, but mission critical.
