--- title: How does marine debris affect marine life? description: How does marine debris affect marine life? --- [Skip to content](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/how-does-marine-debris-affect-marine-life#main-content) ![TBF AMDI Logo Pair white](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair%20white.png?width=400&height=160&name=TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair%20white.png) - [Events](https://www.tangaroablue.org/events) - [Volunteer](https://tangaroablue.org/volunteer/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Events](https://www.tangaroablue.org/events) - [Volunteer](https://tangaroablue.org/volunteer/) - [Contact us](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) [Contact us](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Marine Debris Knowledge Base](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base?hsLang=en-au) 2. [About Tangaroa Blue](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au) 3. [The Issue - Marine Debris](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#the-issue-marine-debris) 20 January 2026 # How does marine debris affect marine life? ## Tangled, trapped or starved - marine debris is seriously harmful to marine life. Animals can become entangled in items such as ropes or trapped in intact containers, such as drink bottles and buoys. In the South Pacific, more than 600 dead crabs were found trapped inside a single glass bottle (once they fell in, they were unable to get out). Corals can also become smothered by plastic bags and sheeting, which impairs their ability to undertake photosynthesis, or they can be entangled in nets and line which cause damage. More than 1,500 marine species have been documented as having ingested floating plastic by mistake. Once ingested, these plastics cause inflammation and scarring of bodily tissues, including the stomach, kidney and liver, leading to disease, impaired health, reduced body size - sometimes causing enough damage to kill them. *Pictured: Project Coordinator Ian found these fish trapped in a container on a beach in Queensland.* ![Trapped Fish](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Trapped%20Fish.png?width=670&height=201&name=Trapped%20Fish.png)   - [About Tangaroa Blue](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Who We Are](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#who-we-are) - [What We Do](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#what-we-do) - [Guidelines and Resources](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#guidelines-and-resources) - [The Issue - Marine Debris](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/about-tangaroa-blue?hsLang=en-au#the-issue-marine-debris) - [Volunteering & Clean-ups](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Volunteering](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#volunteering) - [Events](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#events) - [Schools, Community and Corporate Events](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#schools-community-and-corporate-events) - [The WA Beach Clean-up](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#the-wa-beach-clean-up) - [The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#the-great-barrier-reef-clean-up) - [Clean-up Tips & Safety Information](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/volunteering-clean-ups?hsLang=en-au#clean-up-tips-safety-information) - [Data and Monitoring (AMDI)](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [About AMDI](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#about-amdi) - [Methodology](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#methodology) - [Requesting Data](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#requesting-data) - [Troubleshooting](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/data-and-monitoring-amdi?hsLang=en-au#troubleshooting) - [Programs & Initiatives](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Rig Recycle](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#rig-recycle) - [Project ReCon](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#project-recon) - [ReefClean](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#reefclean) - [FAD Watch](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#fad-watch) - [Operation Clean Sweep](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#operation-clean-sweep) - [IOT Esky Library Initiative](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/programs-initiatives?hsLang=en-au#iot-esky-library-initiative) - [Donations, Shop & Support](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#main-content) - [Donate](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#donate) - [Sea Store](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/donations-shop-support?hsLang=en-au#sea-store) - [Source Reduction Plans](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/knowledge-base/source-reduction-plans?hsLang=en-au) [![TBF AMDI Logo Pair](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/hs-fs/hubfs/TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair.png?width=500&height=200&name=TBF%20AMDI%20Logo%20Pair.png "TBF AMDI Logo Pair")](https://take-action.tangaroablue.org/?hsLang=en-au) [mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org](mailto:contact@tangaroablue.org) Copyright © 2025, Tangaroa Blue Foundation