We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Out of sight, hidden into the deep: Marine litter in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon (southwestern Atlantic) revealed by ROV survey
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
The deep sea is increasingly recognized as vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures, including marine litter, yet large geographic gaps remain in our understanding of litter distribution and ecological interactions. Submarine canyon systems can act as conduits and accumulation zones for anthropogenic material, but data from the southwestern Atlantic are scarce. Here, we present the first characterization of deep-sea marine macro-litter in the Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon (Argentina), based on 240 hours of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) video collected during 17 dives (878-3,820 m depth) aboard the R/V Falkor (too) in July-August 2025. Litter was observed during 10 dives, comprising 29 items distributed between 1,120 and 3,820 m. Plastic was the dominant material (27 items), followed by rubber (2 items). Most litter consisted of plastic sheets and bags, food wrappers, and commercial fishing-related gear, including lines, ropes, and cables. Litter was observed in multiple settings, including buried or degraded items, resting on the seabed, and trapped among rocks or drifting near the bottom. Most items were located within the canyon domain, forming localized clusters along the canyon axis and walls. Litter-fauna interactions were documented for seven items and included both sessile colonization and associations with mobile fauna, mainly on partially buried plastic items and entangled fishing-related gear. These patterns suggest that substrate stability and residence time may influence sessile colonization. The composition and distribution of debris indicate that maritime activities, particularly fisheries, are the most likely sources and further support the role of submarine canyons as accumulation zones for marine litter. This study provides critical baseline data in an understudied region and highlights the need for improved monitoring programs and management strategies for marine litter to reduce impacts in submarine canyon systems.
More Papers Like This
Anthropogenic debris accumulation in the Argentine deep sea: evidence of an irreversible sink
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Plastic debris in the Ecuadorian shoreline, coastal and deep-water zones of the eastern Pacific margin
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found plastic bags, food containers, and fishing gear both on Ecuador's beaches and nearly 4,000 meters deep in the ocean, showing trash travels from our coastlines to the deep sea. This matters because that same plastic breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, including fish we eat, meaning better waste management on land could protect ocean health and, eventually, ours.
Occurrence and potential hydrodynamic controls of microplastics in surface sediment of the Manila Trench, northeastern South China Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Marine litter in submarine canyons: A systematic review and critical synthesis
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review finds that less than 1% of the world's submarine canyons have been studied for marine litter, revealing a major knowledge gap. Plastics that accumulate in deep-sea canyons break down into microplastics over time, potentially affecting marine food chains that humans depend on for nutrition.
The submarine Congo Canyon as a conduit for microplastics to the deep sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the Congo Canyon submarine canyon as a potential conduit for transporting land-derived plastic waste to the deep sea. The canyon, which connects the Congo River to the deep Atlantic, may funnel significant amounts of microplastics from Central Africa's coast to the seafloor thousands of meters below. Understanding deep-sea plastic transport pathways is critical for assessing the full extent of ocean microplastic contamination.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.