A major new survey of the seafloor has found that even in the deepest ocean depths you can find bottles, plastic bags, fishing nets and other types of human litter.
The litter was found throughout the Mediterranean, and all the way from the continental shelf of Europe to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 2,000 kilometers from land. Litter is a problem in the marine environment as it can be mistaken for food and eaten by some animals or can entangle coral and fish – a process known as "ghost fishing".
The international study involving 15 organizations across Europe was led by the University of the Azores, and is a collaboration between the Mapping the Deep Project led by Plymouth University and the European Union-funded HERMIONE Project, coordinated by the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton. Other UK project partners that contributed to the study are the University of Southampton and the British Geological Survey.
Marine Litter
Scientists took nearly 600 samples from across the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea, from depths ranging from 35 meters to 4.5 kilometers.
Mr Christopher Pham, from the University of the Azores, said: "We found that plastic was the most common litter item found on the seafloor, while trash associated with fishing activities (discarded fishing lines and nets) was particularly common on seamounts, banks, mounds and ocean ridges. The most dense accumulations of litter were found in deep underwater canyons."
Dr Kerry Howell, Associate Professor at Plymouth University's Marine Institute, said: "This survey has shown that human litter is present in all marine habitats, from beaches to the most remote and deepest parts of the oceans. Most of the deep sea remains unexplored by humans and these are our first visits to many of these sites, but we were shocked to find that our rubbish has got there before us."
Litter was located at each site surveyed, with plastic accounting for 41% and derelict fishing gear 34%. Glass and metal, wood, paper/cardboard, clothing, pottery, and unidentified materials were also observed.
Dr Eva Ramirez-Llodra, Marine Biologist from the HERMIONE project, said: "An interesting discovery was relating to deposits of clinker on the sea floor – this is the residue of burnt coal that had been dumped by steam ships from the late 18th century onwards. We have known that clinker occurs on the deep-sea bed for some time, but what we found was the accumulation of clinker is closely related with modern shipping routes, indicating that the main shipping corridors have not been altered in the last two centuries."
The report outlines the path that plastics in particular can take, originating from coastal and land sources and being carried along continental shelves and slopes into deep water.
Dr Veerle Huvenne, Seafloor and Habitat Mapping Team Leader at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, explains: "Submarine canyons form the main connection between shallow coastal waters and the deep sea. Canyons that are located close to major coastal towns and cities, such as the Lisbon Canyon offshore Portugal, or the Blanes Canyon offshore Barcelona, can funnel litter straight to water depths of 4,500m or more."
Dr Howell added: "The large quantity of litter reaching the deep ocean floor is a major issue worldwide. Our results highlight the extent of the problem and the need for action to prevent increasing accumulation of litter in marine environments."
The paper, Marine litter distribution and density in European Seas, from the shelves to deep basins, is published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Imtech Marine Receives Multi-Year Contra
NOAA Releases Draft Proposal to Expand T
New Technology for Harvesting Energy fro
Ocean Power Technologies Announces Award
Scientists Discover New Marine Life in A
Predicting Australia's Future Marine Env
Marine Research Can Solve Some of Europe
UTEC Geomarine Completes First North Ame
World's Smallest Survey System Gets a Li
JW Fishers: Marine Industry Employs Boat
AIRMAR Introduces New Chirp-Ready Broadb
Willard Marine Delivers Solas Rescue Boa
Next Generation Treasure Hunters; Global
Imtech Marine Provides Complete Heating,
Uninett Contracts with Global Marine Sys
Marine Teknikk AS to Design Subsea Supp
Marine Research Application Puts the Ree
New Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences
New Earth and Marine Science and Technol
Industry Forecasts Increase in Robots, B
More Female Marine Scientists in Leaders
Marine Conservation Institute Announces
UCLA Report Urges New Global Policy Effo
WOC and the Nautical Institute Launch Ne
EdgeTech 2205 AUV-based Sonar Assists GL
Maine Marine Composites Wins Federal Gra
Breakthrough for Marine Energy with 'Und
Coastline Surveys Completes Submarine As
NOAA Announces Regulations to Protect Ma
Imtech Marine Extends Service Reach to A
Deep-sea Study Reveals Cause of 2011 Tsu
CGG and Spectrum Announce Large Multi-Cl
Willard Marine Wins Contract for 42 Sola
Kongsberg GeoAcoustics Dual Frequency Si
BOEM and Louisiana Coastal Marine Instit
U.N. and Marine Companies Get Help from
Long Endurance Marine Unmanned Surface V
Major Reductions in Seafloor Marine Life
Yara Acquires German Company Specialized
New Revolutionary Nano-Filler Solves Wor
SeaRobotics “Collapsible” USV Aids in Ar
Keppel Offshore and Marine Joins World O
Success for Datafish Acoustics Survey at
Greenaway Marine High Speed Camera Housi
Proteus and TCarta Marine Team to Offer
Reflex Marine Launch Newly Developed FRO
The Clean Our Ocean’s Refuge Coalition A
Pilbara Marine Health Check - Good and B
Spotted Seal Study Reveals Sensitive Hea
Optech to Exhibit Coastal and Marine Sol
Turbulence in Marine Environments (TIME)
DeepWater Buoyancy Delivers Flotation Te
Powerful MacArtney MERMAC Winch System f
BMT Nigel Gee Provides Advanced Windfarm
NCS Survey Hires Simon Goldsworthy into
Osiris Marine Services Completes World’s
New IUCN App for Marine Invasive Species
Reflex Marine to Host US Frog-XT4 Launch
Marine Cable Route Survey Contract for S
Nortek to Host the 2014 Northern Europea
OceanWorks International Delivers Additi
NOAA Releases Expansion Proposal for Gul
NOAA Ships Set Sail for 2014 Hydrographi
NOAA Commissions New Fisheries Survey Sh
The Navy Living Marine Resources is Seek
MacArtney Ice Core Drilling Winch for Br
OceanWise Supplier of Choice to UK Gover
DOF Subsea Wins Call-Off for MBE and AUV
SK4 & NorNed Protection Survey
May- Multiple Magnetometer Sensor Arrays
Side Scan Sonar Survey for Nord Stream
Seafloor Experts Publish New View of Zon
CSA Conducts Substantial Sediment Profil
Veripos, Sonardyne & Guidance Marine Sta
Global Industry Event to Foster Business
Sercel Launches QuietSea Marine Mammal M
NOAA Announces Updated Process for Nomin
WFS Technologies Announces Collaboration
Teledyne Marine Focuses the 2014 Underwa
Milestone Cleared for First Marine Hydro
Forum Energy Technologies Awarded Contra
James Bellingham Appointed Director of W
Teledyne Invests in Ocean Aero, a Design
SeaBird has received a letter of award f
NORSAT SECURES $1.7M ORDER FOR X-BAND MA
Bhagwan Marine Takes Delivery of Damen A
REFLEX MARINE PARTNERS WITH FANO KRAN TO
Hallin Marine completes mooring replacem
August - Worldwide Survey of Recent Ocea
Imtech Marine Nav/Com partner for Ship o
MTN Grows European Customer Base and Ex
CSA Mobilizes Newest Survey Vessel to th
Offshore Survey 2015 Calls for Papers
Offshore Survey 2015 Calls for Papers
Walter Steedman Elected Chairman of IMCA
Acteon Acquires UTEC Survey, Enhancing G
Second of Three Fugro Offshore Coastal S
Odyssey Marine Exploration Completes Cur
Odyssey Marine Exploration Completes Cur
NOAA team reveals forgotten ghost ships
Ocean News & Technology is a publication of TSC
7897 SW Jack James Drive
Suite A, Stuart, FL 34997
(772)-221-7720