A shocking video and news story today showed further devastation caused by plastic waste. The video of the suffering turtle highlights the impact we’re having on our marine life on one island in particular.

The isolated Aldabra atoll, 390 miles off the coast of Africa, is strewn with plastic. Due to ocean currents, waste is washed ashore from long distances. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s essential something is done to fight the plastic and waste problem.

The island, known for its population of nesting endangered green turtles, is being dramatically affected by the waste that is being washed ashore. Shockingly, a flip-flop has recently been discovered in the faeces of one of the turtles.

Operation Island Clean Up

According to Sky News, a huge plastic clean-up operation is being organised. The clean-up will tackle plastic waste and help save the vital nesting sites on this Indian Ocean Island.

A team from the Seychelles Islands Foundation and Queens College, Oxford University will attempt to clear around 50 tonnes of plastic in a month long expedition.

Around 5,000 endangered green turtles nest on beaches around the coral atoll. However, there are also 150,000 giant tortoises that are constantly eating debris including plastic bottles, cigarette lighters and flip-flops.

Jeremy Raguain, a project officer with the Seychelles Islands Foundation, said: “It’s cataclysmically ironic that a place that is so far and so protected still gets affected by this kind of stuff.