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If you can't see it does it still exist? Marine Debris in the Deep Sea
Summary
This piece discusses the problem that marine debris data from the deep sea (below 200 meters) are rarely systematically collected, and describes the development of a smartphone app that allows scientists and observers to report deep-sea debris sightings as opportunistic 'citizen science.' The work aims to build a more complete picture of how plastic pollution is distributed throughout the entire ocean, not just at the surface.
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) estimates that 6.4 million tons of waste enters our oceans every year, with rubbish entering the oceans from both land- and ocean-based sources. Evidence of anthropogenic debris or âmarine litterâ has been found throughout the world in areas of the deep sea, classified here as >200 meters. While some papers have been published on specific regions, debris data are typically a secondary priority on ships and when debris is observed during deep sea sampling this information goes unrecorded. In an effort to âcrowdsourceâ data, or gather opportunistic data, on the type and location of debris in this area, I, in partnership with Arda Varilshua, have developed an iPhone application, Deep Sea Debris. This app allows users to photograph, describe and upload pictures to a network and map to visually display the types and distribution of debris. The Deep Sea Debris app can be used to share information to help create a better picture of human impacts in the deep sea.