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Invisible plastic found in remote Sargasso Sea
26 Sep
Summary
- Microplastic fragments found in remote Sargasso Sea samples.
- One sample contained 1,298 microplastic fragments.
- Actress Shailene Woodley joined the 2019 expedition.
In 2019, an expedition to the remote Sargasso Sea revealed a hidden plastic pollution crisis. Scientists collected samples in this North Atlantic ecosystem, finding an average of 1,298 microplastic fragments in one sample.
The Sargasso Sea, defined by ocean currents rather than a shoreline, serves as a crucial habitat for marine life. Its currents concentrate floating materials, making it a key site for studying microplastic accumulation far from its origins.
Actress Shailene Woodley joined the Greenpeace expedition, lending her voice to the campaign for enhanced protection of international waters. Her involvement underscored the scientific findings and linked them to advocacy for the High Seas Treaty.
This discovery highlights that marine plastic pollution extends beyond visible litter on beaches. Microplastics, tiny fragments from larger items, can disperse widely, posing a threat to marine organisms and food webs within seemingly pristine environments.
