Fatal ingestion of floating net debris by two sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus)

Mar Pollut Bull. 2010 May;60(5):765-7. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.03.008. Epub 2010 Apr 8.

Abstract

In 2008 two male sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) stranded along the northern California coast with large amounts of fishing net scraps, rope, and other plastic debris in their stomachs. One animal had a ruptured stomach, the other was emaciated, and gastric impaction was suspected as the cause of both deaths. There were 134 different types of nets in these two animals, all made of floating material, varying in size from 10 cm(2) to about 16 m(2). The variability in size and age of the pieces suggests the material was ingested from the surface as debris rather than bitten off from active gear. These strandings demonstrate that ingestion of marine debris can be fatal to large whales, in addition to the well documented entanglements known to impact these species.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Diseases / etiology*
  • Animal Diseases / mortality
  • Animals
  • California
  • Eating*
  • Fisheries / instrumentation*
  • Geography
  • Male
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Particle Size
  • Sperm Whale / physiology*
  • Stomach Rupture / etiology
  • Stomach Rupture / mortality
  • Stomach Rupture / veterinary*
  • Time Factors
  • Waste Products / adverse effects*
  • Water Pollutants / toxicity*

Substances

  • Waste Products
  • Water Pollutants