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Last year, 13 species of endangered sea turtles were stocked at Jungmun Beach and attracted attention. The problem was found ten days after it was released on the coast near Busan, and somehow, the body was full of marine debris.

Reporter Kim Yeon-sun.

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There is a lot of garbage next to the dying red sea turtle.

Over 200 large and small marine debris filled the turtle's body.

The turtle was found to have been released in late August at the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Event at Jungmun Beach in Seogwipo City.

It was released to save the sea turtles and was found dead within 10 days of eating the marine garbage discarded by humans.

Experts say turtles that died within a short time after release can tell how serious marine pollution is.

[Kim, Byung-yeop / Professor, College of Ocean Sciences, Cheju National University: It is important to release animals, but the environment where turtles can inhabit when released, so habitat conservation is the most important.]

Another sea turtle comes with long vinyl and a fishing line.

The evidence shows that marine life is seriously exposed to marine debris.

The National Institute of Marine Biology and Resources began researching the cause of death in 2017.

To date, marine debris has been found in the body of 20 sea turtles, with plastics accounting for a large portion.

[Kim Il-hoon / National Institute of Marine Biology and Resources: The direct impact on plastics is very serious for other marine life. Even if it's papered, it's already well over 300 species. It is now estimated that the number is overwhelmingly increasing.]

Experts say the destruction of ecosystems from marine pollution has already begun.

It is not easy to guess how much marine debris will affect humans beyond marine life, so we need to hurry up effective measures.

(Picture Credit: National Marine Biological Resources Museum)