Shocking pictures of a dead dolphin and seal wrapped in discarded fishing nets have been released as part of a campaign.

James Barnett, 57, is a marine vet and says the biggest threat to marine life is discarded fishing nets, known as ghost nets.

He said that while plastic does pose a threat to marine life, he sees animals wrapped in ghost nets far more often.

He released images of a dolphin that washed up in Cornwall in 2017, completely wrapped from snout to flipper in netting and a seal that was found washed ashore near Boscastle, entangled in 35kg of nets in May.

In May, a seal was found washed ashore near Boscastle, entangled in 35kg of nets and James Barnett, 57, said it was the worst case of animal entanglement he'd ever seen

At the time volunteers from local rescue group British Divers Marine Life Rescue said it was clear the seal had endured a horrific death.

Mr Barnett said: “It’s definitely the worst case of animal entanglement I have seen in my career.

“Seals are very curious animals and they will investigate nets floating in the water or attached to the seabed and can get entangled in them.”

Ghost nets, the discarded or lost nets floating in the water, are a huge problem for seals and Mr Barnett said he sees serious cases of entanglement every year.

Last year, he autopsied nearly 30 dolphins, whales and porpoises, which had been found stranded on beaches and around a quarter of them were unintentionally caught in fishing nets

The cut marks found on the bodies of marine mammals are often the tell-tale signs that an injured animal has become entangled.

Last year, James carried out autopsies on nearly 30 dolphins, whales and porpoises which had been found stranded on beaches and around a quarter of them were unintentionally caught in fishing nets.

Mr Barnett said: “We have not found much evidence of plastic in seals. The biggest killers are probably bycatch and entanglement.”

He has been treating injured marine animals since the early 90s and works at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Cornwall.

Over the years, he has carried out hundreds of post-mortem examinations on dolphins, seals and other animals found dead on beaches.

He has been treating injured marine animals since the early 90s and says it is a passion of his

“We don’t know how big a problem microplastic is yet. Microplastics is a totally unknown quantity.

“We are not yet able to determine how badly it is impacting the animals’ health. I think it is something further studies over the coming years will be able to say.”

Throughout his career, James he has carried out 225 autopsies on dolphins, whales and porpoises of 11 different species, 78 seals and one basking shark, the first of its kind in the UK.

“It’s a passion,” he said. “My work helps highlight the issue around bycatch, entanglement and marine plastic and pollution. It makes my life more real and meaningful.”