Abstract
Marine debris is recognized as a major threat to biodiversity and can be found ubiquitously even in remote regions, including deep-sea environments. Isla del Coco National Park is known as one of the best protected areas around the world, a preferred diving destination, and is also renowned for large aggregations of pelagic species that attract illegal commercial fisheries. Despite its pristine reputation, this study demonstrates that anthropogenic debris can affect this remote and well protected area. Images of marine debris were taken using the DeepSee submersible, mainly plastic litter from fishing gear were found between 200 and 350 m depth. A total of 40 items of debris were found in 5.48% of 365 dives, 60% of the items were plastics, and local boat and fishing activities provided most of litter. Our aim with this research is to raise awareness about the potential problem of solid wastes and fishing gear deposited in the deep environments of Isla del Coco National Park and to explore the potential implications for the ecological integrity of this protected area, including ghost fishing and the possible ingestion of pollutants. These results provide useful management information for the area, especially if one considers the constant pressure of illegal fishing and tourism at Isla del Coco National Park.
Highlights
Marine debris, which is defined as persistent, manufactured or processed solids that have been disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environments (Coe and Rogers, 1997), is recognized as a global problem and one of the major threats to biodiversity (Gall and Thompson, 2015; Browne et al, 2016)
Marine debris can be found in remote places as the Artic deep waters, where Galgani and Lecornu (2004) found 0.2–0.9 pieces of plastic per linear kilometer at 2,500 m depth, and according to Bergmann and Klages (2012) the amount of litter deposited in the same area has been increasing; the same trend is expected to happen around the world
The deep sea is recognized as a major sink for microplastic debris
Summary
Marine debris, which is defined as persistent, manufactured or processed solids that have been disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environments (Coe and Rogers, 1997), is recognized as a global problem and one of the major threats to biodiversity (Gall and Thompson, 2015; Browne et al, 2016). Litter can be found ubiquitously even in remote regions, as some studies have demonstrated (Bergmann and Klages, 2012; van Cauwenbergue et al, 2013; Woodall et al, 2014), and deep seas are not exempt from its presence (Schlining et al, 2013; Pham et al, 2014). Marine debris can be found in remote places as the Artic deep waters, where Galgani and Lecornu (2004) found 0.2–0.9 pieces of plastic per linear kilometer at 2,500 m depth, and according to Bergmann and Klages (2012) the amount of litter deposited in the same area has been increasing; the same trend is expected to happen around the world. Anthropogenic debris in deep-sea environments has been less studied since deep-sea surveys are logistically difficult and economically more expensive compared to those conducted in surface waters and along beaches (Ryan et al, 2009)
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