abstract
The combined gut contents of two great shearwaters Puffinus gravis were found to contain 44 separate plastic particles with a total mass of 1,383 g. The particles were identified as high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, crosslinked polyolefin and nylon. Analysis showed that 95 per cent of the particles were polyethylene. The source of the plastic particles was not determined but they were probably derived from their prey. In view of possible adverse physical and chemical effects monitoring of the occurrence of these plastic particles is necessary.