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Shopping Bags in the Abyss: Addressing the Deep-Sea Plastic Crisis

  • The Shinkai 6500 manned submersible regularly collects data on deep-sea plastic debris. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

    The Shinkai 6500 manned submersible regularly collects data on deep-sea plastic debris. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

  • Pieces of a plastic bag lie at the bottom of the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,898 meters. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

    Pieces of a plastic bag lie at the bottom of the Mariana Trench at a depth of 10,898 meters. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

  • A plastic bag hangs from a deep-sea tube worm. The abyss-dwelling creature is of evolutionary importance for its ability to feed on minerals. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

    A plastic bag hangs from a deep-sea tube worm. The abyss-dwelling creature is of evolutionary importance for its ability to feed on minerals. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

  • A mannequin head discovered at a depth of more than 6,000 meters was found a year later to have an unidentified deep-sea creature living on it. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

    A mannequin head discovered at a depth of more than 6,000 meters was found a year later to have an unidentified deep-sea creature living on it. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

  • A sea anemone living on a plastic bag. Without a firm place to attach, such species would not be found on the soft, muddy sea floor. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

    A sea anemone living on a plastic bag. Without a firm place to attach, such species would not be found on the soft, muddy sea floor. (Photo courtesy of JAMSTEC)

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