The waste that we dump into the planet’s oceans and waterways (an estimated 8.8 million tons per year, to be exact!) has serious implications for marine animals. Around 700 marine species have been put at risk of extinction because of the sheer volumes of plastic that they end up ingesting or becoming entangled in. Even enormous sea animals such as Sei whales and sperm whales have died because of our trash.

Bycatch – a term used to describe untargeted marine animals like sharks, dolphins, porpoises, and turtles, who often end up being caught by fishing nets – is also a grave problem. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that bycatch accounts for 40 percent of all global marine catches and that a fisherman will catch an unbelievable 20 pounds of bycatch for every one pound of targeted fish. Every year, around 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises become fatally entangled in fishing gear, while about 250,000 sea turtles are accidentally captured, killed, or injured by fishermen.

With that in mind, you are sure to breathe a sigh of relief for the turtle in this video, who was fortunate enough to be saved from a fishing net thanks to kind humans. The people were on a boating trip near the Maldives when the baby turtle approached them, clearly in need of help. Luckily, they were able to remove the net with ease and release him back into the water. We’re sure the little turtle appreciated it! To learn more about how you can use your everyday choices to help save animals just like the little turtle, read up on the posts below:

• 6 Ways You Can Help Save Our Oceans
• 10 Simple Actions That Just Might Save Our World’s Oceans From Plastic
• 5 Simple Go-To Tips to Shrink Your Plastic Footprint
• No Ocean, No Us: 3 Reasons We Should Care About the State of Our Oceans
• If You Took Seafood Out of Your Diet, How Would it Really Help the Planet?

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