Dr Kathy Townsend, a Queensland based marine scientist, has found that up to 40% of turtles in the Moreton Bay area have died from ingesting plastic. Kathy gave a presentation at Sydney Aquarium in May this year to disseminate some of her disturbing research findings. Prior to Kathy's research it was thought that about 2% of turtle mortality may be attributed to plastic. These results have shocked both Kathy and environmental organisations based in Queensland. Such unnecessary waste of marine life from human waste is not new. However it was thought that it occurred elsewhere and not in Australia. Plastic bags, balloons, and bottles were the main culprits.