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Massive occurrence of benthic plastic debris at the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, the North West Pacific
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Researchers used remotely operated vehicles to conduct a quantitative survey of plastic debris on the abyssal seafloor at depths of 5700 to 5800 meters beneath the Kuroshio Extension current in the Northwest Pacific. They found massive amounts of benthic debris, with plastic dominating the composition, confirming that the deep-sea floor beneath major ocean current systems is a major sink for surface-derived plastic pollution. The study provides rare direct evidence of deep-sea plastic accumulation at abyssal depths.
Abstract The deep-sea is considered to be an ultimate sink for marine plastic debris. The abyssal (3500-6500 m) covers the bulk of the deep ocean floor yet little is known about the extent of plastic debris on the abyssal seafloor. We undertook a quantitative assessment of debris presents on the abyssal seafloor (5700-5800 m depth) beneath the Kuroshio Extension current system in the Northwest Pacific, which is one of the major transit points for massive amounts of debris sourced from Asia that are entering the North Pacific Ocean. The dominant type of debris was single-use plastics-mainly bags and food packaging. The density of plastic debris (average 4561 items km −2 ) in the abyssal zone was the highest recorded for an abyssal plain, suggesting that the deep-sea basin of the Northwest Pacific is a significant reservoir of plastic debris.
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Massive occurrence of benthic plastic debris at the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, the North West Pacific
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This study used video imagery to quantify plastic debris on the abyssal seafloor at 5,700 to 5,800 meters depth beneath the Kuroshio Extension current in the Northwest Pacific, finding a mean density of 4,561 items per square kilometer, the highest recorded for an abyssal plain. Single-use plastics including bags and food packaging dominated, suggesting this deep-sea basin is a significant sink for plastic debris transported from Asia.
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Researchers mapped microplastic distribution from shallow to ultra-deep ocean sediments in the Northwest Pacific, including Sagami Bay and areas beneath the Kuroshio Extension current. The study found the highest microplastic concentrations in abyssal stations and suggests two distinct transport pathways: land-sourced microplastics move to hadal depths via turbidity currents along submarine canyons, while ocean-surface microplastics sink directly to the abyssal plains below.
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Researchers systematically identified and characterised microplastics in abyssal and hadal sediment samples from the Kuril Kamchatka Trench in the North Pacific, one of the deepest ocean regions. They confirmed microplastic accumulation in this remote trench environment, consistent with the hypothesis that deep trenches serve as ultimate sinks for marine plastic debris transported by strong regional currents.
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Researchers used deep-ocean sediment traps to measure the downward flux of microplastics in the western North Pacific Ocean over a two-year period. They found that microplastics, primarily fibers, were sinking to depths of nearly 5,000 meters, with seasonal variations linked to biological processes at the surface. The study provides some of the first direct evidence that microplastics are actively being transported to the deep ocean floor.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.