Plastics and used fishing gears are chocking coral reefs, according to a new study.
Almost all coral reefs including those in some of the most remote places on Earth contain large deposits of plastic waste.
The study titled, “Plastic pollution on the world’s coral reefs", was published in Nature Journal. It surveyed 84 shallow and deep reefs at 25 locations across the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
Researchers found debris at 77 of the 84 reefs. Most of it was plastic and almost three quarters of items identified were fishing gear.
Hudson Pinheiro, a research fellow from the University of São Paulo, said the survey found out that deeper reefs were more polluted than shallow ones.
The comprehensive survey of plastic pollution on coral reefs ever was conducted by a team including California Academy of Sciences, Nekton and the universities of São Paulo, Oxford and Exeter.
Lead author Pinheiro said plastic pollution is one of the most pressing problems plaguing ocean ecosystems and coral reefs are no exception.
“From plastics that spread coral diseases to fishing lines that entangle and damage the structural complexity of the reef, decreasing both fish abundance and diversity, pollution negatively impacts the entire coral reef ecosystem,” said Pinheiro.
Luiz Rocha, co-director of the academy’s Hope for Reefs initiative, said it was surprising to find that debris increased with depth, since deeper reefs in general are farther from sources of plastic pollution.
“We are almost always the first humans to set eyes on these deeper reefs, and yet we see human-produced trash on every dive. It really puts the effect we have had on the planet into perspective,” said Rocha.
Co-author Bart Shepherd, director of the academy’s Steinhart Aquarium said, reefs face many of the same pressures from human society as shallow reefs, and have a unique and poorly studied fauna.
“We need to protect deeper reefs and make sure that they are included in the conservation conversation,” he said.
The researchers found consumer debris such as water bottles and food wrappers, but these were not the main form of plastic pollution at reefs.
Co-author Lucy Woodall, associate professor at the University of Exeter and principal scientist of marine conservation, highlighted the large amount of fishing gear at deep reefs.
She noted that fishing gear debris is often not reduced by general waste management interventions.
“Therefore, specific solutions related to the needs of fishers should be considered, such as no-charge disposing of damaged gear in ports, or individually labelling gear to ensure fishers take responsibility for misplaced equipment,” said Woodall.
The research team hope their findings will help direct future conservation efforts.
Paris Stefanoudis, a research scientist from the University of Oxford, said deep reefs need to be conserved and explicitly considered in management plans. There are many threats that deep reefs face today, because these ecosystems are ecologically and biologically unique, much like their shallow-water cousins
The researcher however found out that despite the disturbing overall trend, there were some places with relatively little debris.
“This shows us that there are effective strategies for preventing plastic pollution. If we act fast and employ science-based solutions, there absolutely is hope for coral reefs,” said Shepherd.
