The dangers of plastic pollution in our oceans were highlighted when a study found that loggerhead turtles plastic for food. The reptiles could, for example, mistake a plastic bag for a jellyfish snack, which gives off a similar .

Researchers believe this explains why turtles are often found in plastic. 

Scientists studied the reactions of 15 young loggerhead turtles to different kinds of plastic they might in the water. 

The turtles ignored clean plastic but were to ‘stinky’ plastic which had been in the ocean for some time. Once plastic is released into the ocean, microbes, algae, plants and tiny animals make it their home. This creates food-like odours, which, in turn, attracts birds. The study that it also attracts turtles.

The researchers piped airborne odours into the air above a water tank and used to record the turtles’ reactions. 

They responded in the same way to odours from plastics as they did to such as fish and shrimp meal. When the turtles came up to breathe, they kept their out of the water more than three times longer than normal so they could get a good smell. 

Plastic is rapidly growing in our oceans and poses a huge threat to hundreds of marine species.