A whale in Virginia swallowed a DVD case, which lacerated her stomach. It's just one of the hundreds of examples of animals consuming plastic in U.S. waters in recent years.

If a “biodegradable” plastic bag ends up in the ocean, it’s unlikely to actually break down for years–and even if it does, the tiny pieces that remain can harm wildlife.

Researchers at North Carolina State University are investigating the stranding of three marine animals that washed ashore last week in Beaufort. The animals include a seal, a humpback whale, and a ...