When a whale rarely seen in the North Atlantic died in a quiet cove, scientists assumed they’d just salvage an unusual skeleton for the local museum. But the discovery of 30 plastic bags in its stomach made global news. Shopping bags, crisp packets and ice cream wrappers completely clogged its system. A Plastic Whale asks how the giant could have swallowed so much plastic while feeding far out to sea and a mile below the waves. What led it to confuse household rubbish for its natural food? And what does it say about the state of our oceans?