Japanese marine photographer Ryo Minemizu focuses on capturing the remarkable features of tiny ocean organisms like plankton. He conducts nighttime dives in Japan and the Pacific to discover unobserved marine life and report findings in collaboration with researchers. Recent discoveries include new species of Hydrozoa and unique behaviors of parasitic larvae. However, Minemizu also uncovers concerning pollution, notably plastics, impacting marine ecosystems even in remote areas. His work, showcased in an exhibition at EXPO 2025, raises awareness about the damage plastic is causing to marine life.
"Although I only dive to depths of around 25 meters at most, each dive now presents an opportunity to encounter juvenile deep-sea fish and jellyfish in forms that most of humanity has never seen before," Minemizu tells Colossal.
"We now regularly dive in ocean areas where humans have never ventured, and yet even in such remote regions, we are finding plastic waste carried there by human activity," Minemizu says.
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