Coastal Species Thriving in the Middle of the Ocean on Plastic Garbage, Study Finds

A new study published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal on Monday has revealed that dozens of species of coastal invertebrate organisms have been able to survive and reproduce on plastic garbage that’s been floating in the ocean for years.

The research team found that coastal species were thriving in the middle of the ocean in a patch of garbage and plastic, located in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – a 620,000 square mile swirl of trash in the ocean between California and Hawaii.

The scientists said that the findings suggest plastic pollution in the ocean might be enabling the creation of new floating ecosystems of species that are not normally able to survive in the open ocean. The study found that coastal species occurred on more than 70% of debris.

The discovery of living coastal species in the middle of the ocean is not unprecedented, but researchers said the diversity and frequency of coastal species is new. Unlike organic material that degrades over time, plastic debris can remain in the ocean for years, providing a stable environment for coastal species to thrive.

The research team said that further studies are needed to understand the implications of these findings, and to determine how plastic pollution is impacting the ocean’s ecosystems. They also noted that the findings could have implications for the conservation of coastal species, as well as the management of plastic pollution in the ocean.