The use of plastic has been increased enormously because of its low cost and durability. This has created waste of garbage that can have harmful effects on marine species, humans and specifically the lobster economy. Lobster has been considered the most crucial species to coastal economy and the whole communities are based around the lobster economy.
Any harm to lobster or their populations will have a very negative effect on coastal communities. Hans Laufer, a professor at the University of Connecticut, and his team of researchers, are studying the effects of plastic debris on lobsters. According to them four different chemicals have been identified, from the breakdowns of plastics, in the bloodstreams of lobsters, and are linking this to lobster shell disease. The study says the four chemicals found in the lobster’s bloodstream are alkylphenols used in the making of plastic and rubber polymer.
It is fact the plastics are not biodegradable as they are made from small plastic pellets, therefore, these pellets remain on the ocean’s floor for long periods of time. As lobsters are scavengers they either eat the plastics pellets directly thinking they are food or they eat other marine species contaminated by plastic chemicals from pellets they have eaten.
