Caribbean Sea Floor Found Littered with Human Trash, New Study Reveals
A new study shows human trash—plastics, metals, and fishing gear—on the sea floor around Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, even in deep and remote areas.
Trash Problem Runs Deep in the Caribbean
We’ve all seen plastic bottles, cans, and wrappers wash up on Caribbean beaches—but what lies beneath the waves is even more alarming. A new study, published in the December 2024 edition of the Marine Pollution Bulletin, reveals the extent of trash on the Caribbean sea floor, including in deep, remote waters.
Using video footage from 2015 to 2022, researchers analyzed seafloor regions surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These areas ranged from the canyons of the Arecibo Amphitheater to the Mona Canyon, Caja de Muertos, and as far east as Lang Bank off St. Croix.
What they found:
139 pieces of marine litter at depths from 800 to over 20,000 feet
The most common debris: metal, plastic, glass, fabric, mixed materials, and wood
At least 10 items were identified as fishing gear, such as lines, nets, and weights
Even in poorly explored or minimally trafficked areas, the ocean floor is acting as a sink for human waste, the researchers concluded—emphasizing that our impact reaches deeper than we think.
📖 Read the full study here: ScienceDirect – Marine Pollution Bulletin
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
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