Dead dolphin found in Florida with plastic shower hose in its stomach

Another dead dolphin with a stomach full of plastic was discovered in Florida.

The two-metre male dolphin washed ashore on Fort Meyers Beach in Big Carlos Pass, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on Friday (local time).

The dolphin was found a week earlier, and during the necropsy a 60 centimetre plastic shower hose was discovered inside the animal.

"Your actions can make a difference - secure and properly dispose of trash, take part in coastal cleanups and share information on how to reduce marine debris with others," the FWC posted on Facebook.

The FWC will have samples collected from the dolphin analysed to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the second dolphin to be found in the area with a belly full of garbage in a month. On April 23, a baby female rough-toothed dolphin had a piece of a balloon and two plastic bags in its stomach. The dolphin was found emaciated and in poor health, and biologists decided to "humanely euthanise" it.

On the same day the FWC announced the dolphin death, in Italy, a young sperm whale was found dead with several kilograms of plastic in its stomach.

In an effort to curb environmental damage from single-use plastics, many businesses and countries are taking action.

Last year, Australia’s two largest supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths stopped providing single-use plastic bags to customers.

Nationally, bans on lightweight plastic bags are currently implemented or pending in all states and territories except New South Wales.  

The plastic ban is taking place globally as well. This week it was announced that plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds will be banned in England from April 2020.