Deep-sea researchers uncover startling find in the abyssal depths of the Mediterranean's lowest point
In the deepest parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a crisis is unfolding that remains largely invisible to the public. The Calypso Deep, a kidney-shaped trench approximately 12.4 miles long and 3.1 miles across, located 37 miles off the Peloponnese coast, has become a hotspot for marine plastic pollution.
Scientists have discovered hundreds of discarded items on the ocean floor of the Calypso Deep, including plastic bags, glass bottles, and metal cans. Boats have been found dumping bags of rubbish on the ocean floor, leading to piles of waste and furrows in the deep. The plastic waste comes from both terrestrial and marine sources, with boats contributing to pollution on the ocean floor through direct human activity.
The unique geography of Calypso Deep significantly contributes to the accumulation and persistence of this pollution. Its steep, enclosed walls trap debris in a relatively stagnant environment, preventing dispersion and causing waste to settle and become embedded in sediments at depths exceeding 5,100 meters. This topography allows plastics to linger and degrade slowly into microplastics, exacerbating pollution levels and damaging the fragile deep-sea ecosystems.
The presence of plastic pollution at such depths highlights not only the spread of human waste beyond coastal regions but also the long-term ecological risks to deep-sea species and the potential entry of microplastics into marine food chains. The Mediterranean Sea, with its high maritime traffic, dense fishing activity, and geographical isolation, is a focal point of global environmental concerns.
The scale of the plastic crisis in the Mediterranean Sea is staggering, yet it remains largely invisible to the public. The ocean's remote depths remain largely out of sight, creating an environmental blind spot for marine plastic pollution. However, the discovery of plastic waste in the Calypso Deep adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the critical state of our oceans.
Addressing the growing problem of marine plastic pollution will require a collective effort from local communities to global governments. Scientists, communicators, journalists, influencers, and all sectors of society must work together to raise awareness, implement effective waste management strategies, and enforce regulations to prevent further pollution. Only by working together can we hope to preserve the health of our oceans and the diverse ecosystems they support.
References: [1] UNEP/MAP-Barcelona Convention. (2019). Mediterranean Strategy for Plastics Pollution Management. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/26930/Mediterranean-Strategic-Framework-for-Plastics-Pollution-Management.pdf [2] European Commission. (2020). Mediterranean Marine Pollution. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/medsea/pollution/index_en.html
- Given the increasing plastic pollution in the Calypso Deep of the Mediterranean Sea, it's crucial for environmental scientists to focus their research on understanding the impacts of this waste, particularly as it degrades into microplastics, on deep-sea ecosystems.
- Furthermore, since the Mediterranean Sea is a global focal point for environmental concerns due to its high maritime traffic, dense fishing activity, and geographical isolation, policy makers in health-and-wellness, climate-change, and environmental-science must collaborate to enact regulations that protect our oceans and mitigate the effects of plastic pollution.
