89% of shearwaters contain plastics in their body, according to a recent study from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
The average shearwater has seven pieces of plastic in its body, with one example revealing 23 items. The plastics involved are usually pieces of net and line related to fishing activities.
The overall study was carried out on 88 birds of 14 species which had died after being admitted to the WEIld Animal Recovery Centre in Gran Canaria, and plastics were found in the body of 60% of all the birds, including Yellow-Footed Gulls, Laughing Gulls and Cattle Egrets.
All the birds analysed also contained traces of toxic chemicals.
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