Hawaii whale dies with fishing nets and plastic bags in stomach

The whale’s stomach contained six hagfish traps, seven types of fishing net, two types of plastic bags, a light protector, fishing line and a float from a net, researchers found (Daniel Dennison/Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources via AP)

A whale that washed ashore in Hawaii over the weekend likely died in part because it ate large volumes of fishing traps, fishing nets, plastic bags and other marine debris, scientists have said, highlighting the threat to wildlife from the millions of tons of plastic that ends up in oceans every year.

The body of the 56ft- (17m) long, 120,000lb (54,431kg) animal was first noticed on a reef off Kauai on Friday. High tide brought it ashore on Saturday.