Growing litter problem in the Arctic depths
Even on the seabed of the remote Arctic Ocean, marine species have to share their living space with plastic bags, glass shards and fishing nets, researchers at the Alfred Wegener Institute have found out.
A sad find
Researchers Melanie Bergmann and Mine Banu Tekman conducted one of the few time-series studies tracking litter in the deep sea. And the results are worrying.
Litter down in the deep
Researchers used a towed camera system to observe the ocean floor at a depth of 2,500 meters. Even there, they found a significant concentration of litter.
The fate of plastic
The European Union only recycles around 25 percent of its plastic trash - even though it is considered a pioneer in environmental issues. Our daily plastic waste often ends up at the bottom of the sea.
Unsustainable fishing
Fisheries also play a major role when it comes to marine pollution. Plastic nets are commonly found among ocean litter - and they pose serious risks to marine animals.
Boomerang effect
Once in the ocean, small pieces of plastic are eaten by plankton. Via these small organisms, microplastics make their way into the whole food chain. That means we end up eating the plastic we threw away.
A long life
Plastic bags take about 20 years to disintegrate. Plastic bottles need up to 450 years. In the deep sea, the process can be even slower due to a lack of sunlight and oxygen.
Broken glass on the "pristine" seafloor
Things are getting worse. The researchers say there has been a clear increase in the amount of litter since 2011.
Never too late to change
It would still be possible to change our lifestyles. Reducing the amount of waste we produce and raising awareness on the importance of recycling could be the next step to start cleaning up our seas.