Hundreds of marine turtles die every year after becoming entangled in rubbish in the oceans while others are forced to live attached to debris bigger than their own bodies, a new study has found.

A world-wide survey of 106 marine experts by the University of Exeter found that 91 per cent of the entangled turtles are found dead with many having suffered serious wounds which have amputated limbs or chocked them to death.

Others that survived are forced to drag huge mounds of disgarded rubbish or debris with them until they die, experts said.