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The quest for seafloor macrolitter: a critical review of background knowledge, current methods and future prospects
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This critical review examined knowledge, current practices, and challenges in studying macrolitter on the seafloor, the least-investigated sink for marine debris. The seafloor covers 70% of Earth's surface and receives substantial plastic input, yet most of it lies in the deep sea where monitoring is technically difficult and expensive.
The seafloor covers some 70% of the Earth's surface and has been recognised as a major sink for marine litter. Still, litter on the seafloor is the least investigated fraction of marine litter, which is not surprising as most of it lies in the deep sea, i.e. the least explored ecosystem. Although marine litter is considered a major threat for the oceans, monitoring frameworks are still being set up. This paper reviews current knowledge and methods, identifies existing needs, and points to future developments that are required to address the estimation of seafloor macrolitter. It provides background knowledge and conveys the views and thoughts of scientific experts on seafloor marine litter offering a review of monitoring and ocean modelling techniques. Knowledge gaps that need to be tackled, data needs for modelling, and data comparability and harmonisation are also discussed. In addition, it shows how research on seafloor macrolitter can inform international protection and conservation frameworks to prioritise efforts and measures against marine litter and its deleterious impacts.
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How to Deal With Seafloor Marine Litter: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives
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This review examined the state of the art for detecting and removing marine litter from the seafloor, finding that while surface and beach litter has received substantial attention, seafloor litter remains understudied and that emerging technologies including underwater robotics offer promising future cleanup pathways.
Out of sight, but not out of mind: Key issues regarding seafloor macrolitter monitoring
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This expert consensus report recommends methods and standards for monitoring seafloor macrolitter through observation and imaging, emphasizing the need for harmonized, non-destructive techniques and use of advanced technologies. The seafloor is recognized as a major sink for plastic debris, making robust monitoring essential for informing evidence-based marine litter policy.
Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor
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This review examines marine litter, plastic debris, and microplastics accumulating on the seafloor from intertidal zones to hadal depths, emphasizing that the seafloor is a major long-term sink for plastics denser than seawater. It discusses monitoring challenges across different seabed types and highlights abandoned fishing gear as a key seafloor litter component that entangles marine fauna.
Dispersion, accumulation and the ultimate fate of microplastics in deep-marine environments: A review and future directions
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This review synthesized existing knowledge on microplastic distribution in deep-marine environments, integrating process-based sedimentological transport models with field data to outline how microplastics disperse, accumulate, and become buried in seafloor sediments, and identifying key gaps for future research.
Plastics in the deep sea – a global estimate of the ocean floor reservoir
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This systematic review estimates the total amount of plastic pollution resting on the deep ocean floor worldwide. The research reveals that the deep sea serves as a massive reservoir for plastic waste, which is concerning because as these plastics break down into microplastics over time, they can be consumed by deep-sea organisms and re-enter the food chain.
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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.