Deepening Plastic Pollution Threatens Coral Reefs, Study Reveals
A study published in Nature has revealed that plastic pollution is increasing in coral reefs, with deeper reefs having more plastic debris. The study found that almost three-quarters of the larger items were from "ghost gear" such as fishing ropes, lines, and nets. Plastic pollution poses an "emerging threat" to reefs already stressed by the climate crisis and overfishing. The researchers emphasized the need to expand marine protected areas to include mesophotic reefs, update international agreements to combat plastic pollution at its source, and develop low-cost, low-impact biodegradable alternatives.