We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Out of sight, but not out of mind: Key issues regarding seafloor macrolitter monitoring
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Following a number of meetings devoted to knowledge sharing, identification of key issues, and discussing the best ways to move forward, a wide international expert community is now able to provide recommendations regarding the monitoring of seafloor macrolitter through observation and imaging. As the seafloor constitutes a major sink for marine litter including plastics, it is important to acquire robust and extensive data on litter distribution, abundance, types and size ranges across marine habitats. This should be done through widely agreed, harmonised, and non-destructive methods encompassing advanced technologies. Training and capacity building are essential elements in this endeavour. Both new and legacy imagery are needed to establish baseline assessments and trends. Informing policy-making is indispensable for effective action through upstream and targeted measures, with seafloor macrolitter (and megalitter) being a vital part of the evidence base for global mitigation measures.
More Papers Like This
The quest for seafloor macrolitter: a critical review of background knowledge, current methods and future prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
A systematic review of state-of-the-art technologies for monitoring plastic seafloor litter
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined the bioaccumulation of polystyrene microplastics in a simplified aquatic food chain consisting of algae, water fleas, and fish, finding trophic transfer between levels but no biomagnification. Particle concentration actually decreased at higher trophic levels, suggesting that the trophic transfer factor for microplastics may differ fundamentally from that observed for dissolved contaminants.
How to Deal With Seafloor Marine Litter: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Tools and constraints in monitoring interactions between marine litter and megafauna: Insights from case studies around the world
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers synthesized case studies from seven global monitoring programs on marine litter interactions with megafauna — including fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals — examining both macro-debris entanglement and microplastic ingestion, and discussed the critical need for standardized assessment methods to support international environmental policy.
Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
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.