Entanglement in or ingestion of anthropogenic debris in marine and estuarine environments was listed as a KEY THREATENING PROCESS on Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 [13 February 2004].
Anthropogenic debris in marine and estuarine environments (usually known as marine debris) is defined as pollution by human-generated objects (Faris and Hart 1996). Marine debris mostly consists of fishing gear, packaging materials, convenience items and raw plastics (Pruter 1987). Marine debris is known to entangle and be ingested by marine, estuarine and pelagic vertebrate species. Sub-lethal effects of entanglement or ingestion of marine debris may reduce an individual's fitness and ability to successfully reproduce, catch prey and avoid predation (Ryan 1990, Pemberton et al. 1992). Detrimental effects of entanglement with marine debris include strangulation, increased drag, lacerations, infection and loss of limbs.
Cases of entanglement with and ingestion of marine debris have been recorded in the following species and populations that are threatened in NSW: Loggerhead Turtle, Wandering Albatross, Southern Giant-petrel, Green Turtle, Leathery Turtle, Gibson's Albatross, Black-browed Albatross, Australian Fur-seal, New Zealand Fur-seal, Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, and the Little Penguin population in the Manly Point Area.
Entanglements with and ingestion of marine debris are likely to affect the following species that are threatened in NSW: Little Tern, Hooded Plover, Dugong, Blue Whale, Greater Sand-plover, Lesser Sand-plover, Antipodean Albatross, Shy Albatross, Sooty Oystercatcher, Pied Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Osprey, Sooty Albatross, and Southern Right Whale
Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris is listed as a key threatening process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.