dispersion Plastic and solid waste in Oceans Scientists worry. Detecting and measuring these wastes is challenging It exceeds research capabilities From any country alone
A study published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin Raises the need to develop a global monitoring system and coordinated strategies to record, analyze and address the world’s significant waste accumulation in a unified manner. Ocean depths.
Work with a global scope indicates that Ocean floors It covers approx 71% of the surface planet and serves as the final repository for the majority of marine waste, including plastics, fishing nets and land-based waste. Recent research shows that a large portion of the debris introduced into the oceans ends up settling on the seafloor, affecting living organisms and breaking down into smaller pieces over time.
Most of this waste reaches the ocean through it Big riversEspecially in areas such as South Asia and Africa, River courses, such as the Yangtze, Ganges, Mekong, and Nile, transport large amounts of garbage from the interior to the sea. In addition to exceptional events such as Tsunami, natural disaster or fishing activityThis is done through nets and other abandoned items, which increases the accumulation of waste.
Consequences include changes in basic ecological functions, e.g Carbon burialNutritional cycles and habitat provision, as explained by the multidisciplinary team in the scientific article. “The ocean floor remains largely unexplored: there is only a visual record of the ocean floor 0.001% Of bottoms at depths greater than 200 metresAlthough these areas constitute 66% of the total ocean area,” as noted in the scientific study.
The research underscores the fragmented and disparate nature of existing data: an absence Global standards Collecting and managing information makes it difficult to compare results and develop coordinated policies. In parallel, Michael channelsOne of the authors of the work refers to statements issued in an official statement from University of Barcelona “It is necessary to use consistent and harmonized monitoring and measurement methods, and to give priority to the use of advanced technologies for both monitoring and data analysis and management.”
The basis of this work stems from International cooperation Multidisciplinary, the result of scientific workshops held in Italy and China between 2023 and 2024, which identified knowledge gaps and technical and methodological challenges. The approach focuses on Direct monitoring Taking photographs is a non-destructive way to estimate the amount of large waste (those larger than… 2.5 cm), in contrast to bottom trawling, a technique that has been phased out due to its environmental impact and technical limitations.
The proposed world order contemplates integration Compatible methodologies and common databases At a global level to record and analyze waste on the seabed. This approach seeks to get different countries and sectors, including scientific organizations and private companies, to contribute observations, images and results to a common platform. The goal is to facilitate the comparison of information, and improve the assessment of trends Improving the decision-making process in environmental managementPromoting the use of advanced technological tools and open access to the data collected.
The team emphasizes that “selecting sites and defining strategies for new surveys must answer critical questions, such as the size of the accumulation, the size of sources And types of waste, as well as identifying areas of concentration or “hot spots,” according to the scientific article. Criteria include sea conditions, distance to the coast, depth and shape of the bottom, and the availability of ships and waste systems. Positioning.
Images were acquired using advanced platforms such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)Underwater cameras and towing systems Low cost As modular cameras, which made it possible to document large areas with different… Operating costs. As the study put it, “The choice of camera system and platform is key to obtaining data appropriate to the objectives.”
the Waste sorting It is based on hierarchical systems developed by international organizations and on application artificial intelligence To process large amounts of images, although the use of machine learning still faces challenges resulting from the lack of standardization and sufficient databases, text details.
Continuous scanning and analysis Marine waste – Allowing international and regional policies to be directed in accordance with Sustainable development goals Subordinate United Nationsespecially Objective 14which seeks to reduce Marine pollution Of all kinds.
The official statement indicates that priority should be given to them Preventive measures Focusing on the production, consumption and management of waste on land, it warns that the mass removal of waste deposited on the seabed should only be considered in the context of Strict technical and environmental standards.
Cooperate with Private companies Those operating in sectors such as energy or telecommunications can provide records and visual material about the seabed obtained during their activities. The authors suggest that these data will be useful for complementing scientific programs, establishing historical baselines, and discovering how waste has changed over time.
The study also suggests creating global systems of management and participation Informationwith accessible and compatible formats, and the use of open platforms that allow images to be processed and stored for future research and artificial intelligence applications.
the Research warns “Frequent monitoring of the seafloor is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation strategies and to direct removal actions in areas where this can be done in an environmentally safe manner.” The conclusions highlight the essential nature of “building and developing a global reference baseline.” Evidence-based policies On waste at the bottom of the sea.