New research published in the prestigious journal Nature has shed light on the pervasive problem of plastic pollution affecting almost all coral reefs worldwide. This groundbreaking study, conducted by a team of scientists from Nekton, California Academy of Sciences, and the universities of São Paulo, Oxford, and Exeter, represents the most comprehensive survey of plastic pollution on coral reefs ever conducted.

The researchers surveyed a total of 84 shallow and deep reefs across 25 locations in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Their findings were deeply concerning, as debris over 5cm in size was found at 77 out of the 84 reefs surveyed, even in near-pristine locations such as uninhabited atolls in the central Pacific. Astonishingly, the study revealed that deeper reefs were more polluted than their shallow counterparts.

Plastic waste accounted for a staggering 88% of the debris found, with nearly three quarters of the identified items (73%) being fishing gear. Plastic pollution has far-reaching negative impacts on coral reefs, ranging from the spread of coral diseases to the entanglement and damage of reef structures, which subsequently reduces fish abundance and diversity. According to lead author Hudson Pinheiro, PhD, from the University of São Paulo, "Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing problems plaguing ocean ecosystems, and coral reefs are no exception."

Read the paper here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4158...