A dead seagull covered with oil, found on the Devon coast

Litter, sewage, run-off of nutrients from agriculture and mariculture practices, and oil resulting from extraction processes and shipping incidents pose a threat to marine wildlife. In addition, persistent toxic chemicals from industrial processes can accumulate in wildlife. In particular, top predators are at risk as many of theses chemicals are known to increase, or bioaccumulate, up the foodchain.

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Photo: Charles Hood/WWF UK