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Anthropogenic debris accumulation in the Argentine deep sea: evidence of an irreversible sink
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Scientists used an underwater robot to explore the deep seafloor off Argentina for the first time and found trash—mostly plastic, fishing ropes, and nets—scattered across the ocean bottom, with more litter collecting in underwater canyons. This matters because the deep sea acts like a permanent trash can: once debris sinks that deep, it likely stays there and slowly breaks down into microplastics, which can enter the marine food chain and eventually end up on our plates.
The seafloor is recognized as a major sink for marine debris, while deep-sea litter remains poorly investigated due to the logistical and economic constraints associated with seabed exploration. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of marine debris found on the Argentine deep seafloor using the SOI’s Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), providing the first documented evidence for this region. A total of 29 litter items were recorded across 55.6 km of surveyed seafloor. The highest debris abundance was recorded in submarine canyon areas (1.4 items/km), whereas the Malvinas Basin showed the lowest levels (0.1 items/km), likely associated with hydrodynamic conditions. In addition, plastic items, fishing ropes, and nets were the most frequently recorded types of debris. These findings establish a baseline of the current status of deep-sea marine debris and propose future directions for the region.
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Out of sight, hidden into the deep: Marine litter in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon (southwestern Atlantic) revealed by ROV survey
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Scientists exploring a deep underwater canyon off Argentina's coast, nearly 2 miles down, found plastic trash including bags, food wrappers, and fishing gear scattered along the seafloor. This matters because as this litter breaks down, it can release microplastics into the ocean, which eventually make their way into seafood and, ultimately, our diets.
Occurrence and potential hydrodynamic controls of microplastics in surface sediment of the Manila Trench, northeastern South China Sea
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Scientists found microplastics buried deep in the Manila Trench, one of the ocean's deepest points, showing that plastic pollution isn't just floating on the surface or washing up on beaches, it's reaching even the most remote parts of our planet. Underwater "avalanches" called turbidity currents appear to sweep plastic debris down through canyons into the trench, where heavier plastic types settle and accumulate. This matters because it reveals the deep ocean is becoming a long-term dumping ground for plastic waste, which can enter marine food chains and eventually make its way back to our dinner plates.
The ocean’s ultimate trashcan: Hadal trenches as major depositories for plastic pollution
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Analysis of hadal trenches - the deepest points in the ocean - found them to be major accumulation zones for microplastics and plastic debris, with concentrations higher than many surface ocean regions. This reveals that plastic pollution has reached the most remote and extreme environments on Earth, transported by deep-sea currents to ultimate depositional sinks.
The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris
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Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediments from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean and found microplastic fibers up to 4 orders of magnitude more concentrated than at the contaminated sea surface, identifying the deep seafloor as a vast and previously unknown repository of the world's 'missing' plastic.
Effects of Plastic Pollution on Deep Ocean Biota and Ecosystems
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This article examines how plastic pollution affects deep ocean ecosystems, describing how plastics sink to the seafloor and potentially affect deep-sea biota through ingestion, toxin introduction, transport of invasive species, and alteration of seafloor substrate from soft to hard bottom. The deep ocean acts as a long-term sink for plastic pollution with poorly understood ecological consequences.
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