This occurs when they ingest or become entangled in fishing nets, ropes, and other debris dumped into the sea and discarded on beaches. Debris and fishnets are not the only things that kill marine life. It is also a result of the large amounts of oil that is spilled in our earth's waters. These oil spills involve ships, pipelines, storage tanks, fuel trucks, producing wells, and unknown sources. Spills stem from human negligence, 'freak' accidents, inclement weather, and unreliable hardware.
Impacts occur in oceans, marshes, beaches, and inland.
People, as well as birds, fishes, and invertebrate organisms are affected.