Heartbreaking image of a dead fish with an energy drink bottle poking out of its mouth lays bare the scourge of plastic in our oceans

Nature-lover Liz Elmont snapped the photo on Dunster beach in West Somerset
The dogfish was found by the photographer with a plastic wrapper in its mouth
It is the latest in a growing number of creatures caught up in plastic pollution
Plastic pollution also release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, experts say

Published: 05:02 EDT, 16 October 2018 | Updated: 05:13 EDT, 16 October 2018

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A wildlife photographer has shared a heartbreaking image of a fish found dead after apparently choking on a plastic energy drink bottle.

The dogfish was found with a plastic wrapper stuck in its mouth on a beach in West Somerset.

It is the latest in a rapidly growing number of marine creatures caught up in the rising tide of oceanic plastic pollution.

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A wildlife photographer has shared a heartbreaking image of a fish found dead after apparently choking on a plastic energy drink bottle. The dogfish was found with a plastic wrapper stuck in its mouth on a beach in West Somerset

The fish was found by nature-lover Liz Elmont, who snapped the photo on Dunster beach and said it represented a much bigger problem.

She said: ' I spend many hours out doors appreciating the beauty around us. To see something so sad makes me livid.

'Just one moment of thoughtlessness on behalf of whoever discarded this wrapper has probably caused the unnecessary and cruel death of a living creature.

'One person carelessly throwing away one wrapper may be a small action in the overall scheme of things but when you add up how many times this could happen over a person's lifetime it's off the scale.

'We need to start caring for our planet before it's too late. We need to teach our children respect for nature to ensure things are better in the future and we can only do that by not being part of the problem ourselves.

'Dispose of your rubbish correctly, think about your actions, stay clear of single use plastics. It's not difficult.'

It comes after a study released in August found that sunlight causes plastic pollution to decompose and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Polyethylene, the polymer used in carrier bags, is the worst offender

WHAT ARE THE LATEST PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE IMPACT OF OCEAN WASTE?

The amount of plastic in the oceans is expected to triple in just ten years, a report issued by the UK government in March 2018 warned.

This key environmental problem risks being ‘out of sight, out of mind’ with more known about the surface of Mars and the Moon than the deep sea bed, it added.

The toll of plastic pollution in the sea could be 150million tonnes by 2025 – treble the 50million tonnes estimated in 2015.

Our oceans store carbon dioxide and heat while producing oxygen and food, the Foresight Future of the Sea Report stressed.

On the growing blight of plastic pollution, the document warned this will leave a physical presence, accumulating on coasts or in particular areas of ocean.

The report also warned plastic litter on coasts can increase the risk of dangerous bacteria in the water, such as E.coli.

It said efforts to reduce plastic pollution should focus on stopping it entering the sea, developing new biodegradable materials and public awareness campaigns.

It comes after a study released in August found that sunlight causes plastic pollution to decompose and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Methane and ethylene are commonly created by the natural degradation of a variety of commercial plastic waste.

Polyethylene, the polymer used in carrier bags, is the worst offender and most likely to create high volumes of atmospheric pollutants, researchers found.

The study, published in PLOS ONE, focused on how plastics behave when subject to prolonged bouts of sunlight.

Study senior author Professor David Karl, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, said: 'Plastic represents a source of climate-relevant trace gases that is expected to increase as more plastic is produced and accumulated in the environment.

'This source is not yet budgeted for when assessing global methane and ethylene cycles - and may be significant.'

Production of plastics - which started nearly 70 years ago - is expected to double over the next two decades.

Their durability and low cost makes them attractive even though they are known to release a variety of chemicals during degradation - endangering organisms and ecosystems.