Shocking footage shows how a fisherman cut open a fish’s stomach - pulling out dozens of pieces of plastic. <br /><br />The sea fisherman caught the Mahi Mahi, also known as a common dolphinfish, off the coast of Costa Rica. <br /><br />He hauled the fish aboard his boat and suspected the fish was sick. He opened up the fish’s large intestine and was shocked to see the level of pollution inside. <br /><br />The fisherman filmed himself removing plastic jar lids, pieces of shredded plastic cups, bottle tops, a comb, a lighter and other small fragments of plastic.<br /><br />The footage sparked outrage from animal campaigners on the island, where fishing is one of the main industries.<br /><br />Environmentalists warned that the footage showed how rising amounts of plastic pollution is killing or contaminating marine life.<br /><br />Marine scientist Erick Ross explained that fish often confuse the plastic pieces for food before ingesting them. <br /><br />''The plastic does not melt and can block their intestinal tract, and then they cannot feed – preventing them from consuming food, and starving [them to death],'' he said.
