In 2015 a Cuvier’s beaked whale became stranded on the Isle of Skye. A post-mortem examination completed last week by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme found that the 20ft cetacean — which usually feeds on squid — had ingested 4kg of bin liners and zip-lock and freezer bags. It is stark evidence of the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans.
This is the first time in about 4,000 recorded cases of strandings that plastic has been found to be the direct cause of such a death.
A similar case in Bergen, Norway, earlier this year — a Cuvier’s beaked whale was found with 30 plastic bags and pieces of packaging in its stomach — stirred international concern. The whale was dubbed “Plasthvalen”, prompting