Ingestion of plastic debris by estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, off Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Debris in the marine environment is documented as one of the main threats to fish, birds and sea turtles. However, there are few records of the interactions of cetaceans with debris. This paper reports the presence of a scrap of plastic screen in the digestive tract of an estuarine dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, found dead on the beach sand of Sergipe State, Brazil. The animal showed marks of interaction with fishing and necropsy revealed an adequate nutritional state and a stomach full of food contents, indicating that the animal was feeding just prior to death. It is believed that in this case death did not occur due to the animal having ingested the piece of plastic screen yet, based on previous studies, it is likely that plastic debris can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract and reduce the feeding stimulus, thereby resulting in death. A reduction in marine debris requires addressing the question of debris discarding, especially plastics, and educational campaigns aimed at raising awareness regarding conservation for the maintenance and survival of marine species.