Effect on animals
Every year, millions of animals suffer and die because of eating garbage such as plast, entangling themselves in fishing nets or hurting themselves because of plastic pieces floating at the surface or swimming around and laying at the sea floor.
Over 1 million birds such as the short tailed albatrosses die each year because of eating shiny pieces of plastic which are floating all over the pacific ocean. Birds are often found dead in the ocean or at the beaches with nothing left but their skeletons and large amounts of plastic pieces in their bodies.
However, marine animals also suffer to large amounts. Every year, 100,000 marine animals such as whales, dolphins, sharps, seals, turtles, fish and other marine animals suffer and die because of eating plastic particles or entangle themselves in garbage and old fishing nets.
The picture below shows a albatross that suffered and died from eating plastic and other debris in the ocean. These birds often mix up plastic with plankton because of the plastic shimmering in the water as algae and natural food.
Source: Inhabitat, Helen Morgan
https://inhabitat.com/chris-jordan-documents-the-devestating-impact-of-the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-on-wildlife/