A stark image of a polar bear with plastic hanging from its jaws has been shortlisted for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024 award. Captured on Kiepert Island in the Svalbard archipelago off Norway by photonaturalist Celia Kujala, the image serves as a powerful reminder that even the seemingly untouched reaches of the Arctic are not immune to the pervasive grip of plastic pollution.
The photograph is shortlisted in the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact) category, alongside other impactful images such as a dead fin whale awaiting butchering in Iceland, shark fins drying on a roof in Indonesia, and a gannet trapped in discarded fishing gear.
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) photograph underscores the alarming scale of plastic pollution in the Arctic and its detrimental impact on regional species. Polar bears, already classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, face numerous threats. A 2016 study predicted a 30% decline in their numbers by mid-century, primarily due to climate change and the shrinking sea ice on which they rely for hunting. However, plastic pollution is exacerbating the situation.
Polar bears are increasingly turning to landfills for food, with alarming consequences. An analysis of stomach contents from the Southern Beaufort Sea population off Alaska and Canada revealed that 28% contained plastic. Shockingly, half of the bears that had ingested plastic also exhibited acute gastritis, a condition that can lead to painful digestive blockages.
While the exact extent of plastic ingestion among polar bears remains uncertain, experts like John Whiteman, chief research scientist at Polar Bears International, believe that bears are more likely to ingest plastic when scavenging for food on land, particularly as they spend more time ashore due to sea ice loss.
The photograph serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for responsible waste management and a reduction in plastic usage, especially in the Arctic. As Whiteman emphasizes, finding safe and long-term solutions to manage trash in the Arctic is crucial, particularly given the increased time polar bears are spending on land. Multiple Arctic communities have already implemented successful strategies for waste management, showcasing the possibility of protecting these vulnerable creatures and their habitat.
The winners of the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2024, presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, will be announced on September 12. You can view the shortlisted images for the Ocean Conservation Photographer of the Year (Impact) category online.
