The Calypso Deep in the Mediterranean has been identified as a site with alarming levels of marine litter. Researchers from the University of Barcelona discovered 167 pieces of waste, including various types of plastics and metals, at depths of over 16,000 feet. This finding highlights the extensive reach of pollution, showing that litter not only accumulates on coasts and shallow waters but also in some of the ocean's deepest points. The sources of this pollution may include coastal runoff and waste from ships, emphasizing a broader environmental crisis.
"Some light waste, such as plastics, comes from the coast, from where it escapes to the Calypso Deep just 60km away. Some plastics, such as bags, drift just above the bottom until they are partially or completely buried, or disintegrate into smaller fragments."
"Experts warned their discovery represents one of the highest concentrations of marine litter ever detected at such great depths. The team, from the University of Barcelona, used a high-tech manned submarine called Limiting Factor to reach the bottom of the trench."
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