Plastic waste in the ocean increases with depth

Researchers have found that the amount of plastic waste around coral reefs increases with the depth of the ocean. This poses a serious threat to fragile ecosystems.

Scientists used specialized diving equipment to capture footage at depths of 30-150 meters in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. They discovered that deeper areas are more severely polluted with debris.

"It was astonishing to find that the amount of waste increases with depth, considering that deeper reefs are generally farther away from sources of plastic pollution," the researchers reported.

Oceanographers noted that plastic can spread diseases among corals, while fishing lines and nets can damage reef structures, causing harm to the abundance and diversity of fish.