A new joint study has shown just how dire the situation is — especially plastic pollution in the Levant Basin, in the southeastern Mediterranean. Unfortunately, this once-pristine region has turned into one of the most polluted marine ecosystems on earth. It quantifies some of the highest deep-sea densities of plastic litter recorded. Led by Ph.D. student Xing-Yu Li, the research sheds light on the sources and distribution of plastic debris, underscoring an urgent need for coordinated efforts to address this escalating environmental crisis.
Marine Pollution Bulletin shared a revolutionary article. It came out of a joint effort between scientists from numerous universities and institutions, including Prof. Revital Bookman from the University of Haifa and Dr. Yael Segal from Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR). Their results illuminate the Levant Basin as a key hotspot for plastic pollution. In fact, researchers found such intense accumulations of plastic bags and other internationally branded packaging strewn across the dramatic seafloor.
The research team used multi-marker analysis to follow plastic pollution from its sources. Unfortunately, they found that land-based inputs from upstream countries such as Egypt, Israel and Turkey are largely responsible for this problem. Shipping disposals largely make up the difference and fisheries surprisingly play a minimal role, thanks to strict Israeli controls.
The Scale of Plastic Pollution
Seafloor of the Levant Basin has already been found to be a sink for plastic debris of all sizes. The study found plastic packaging retrieved from depths ranging between 200 to 1,300 meters, with identifiable barcodes that allowed for source attribution. This vast depth range includes a relatively narrow “hot belt” of accumulation that peaks close to the continental shelf at 200 m. Past 1,000 meters, the bathyal plain acts as a last sink, incorporating high pressure and sedimentation into the mix.
Coauthor Xing-Yu Li shares how the research unfolded. Primarily, we found that plastic grocery bags and packaging make up the majority of the debris,” he said, referencing their deployment of trawls to survey the seafloor. One aspect of the study that particularly piqued the research team’s interest was how the ultra-lightweight plastic materials are able to sink to the bottom of the ocean. Li explained, “We were interested in knowing how lightweight materials such as plastic debris get transported offshore, and how they end up sinking to the seafloor.” We continued to wonder, how much can each recovered item actually tell us?”
The costs represent a troubling trend. Indeed, waste plastic that is sometimes only used for a few minutes can remain in marine ecosystems for hundreds of years. In an official release from the university, Prof. Bookman noted the importance of these findings, adding, “The eastern Mediterranean is stealthily becoming a deep-sea garbage dump. Now plastics we use for only a few minutes are becoming trapped for centuries. This is an incredible danger to deep-sea ecosystems we have hardly even begun to discover.
Sources of Pollution
Overall, the research identifies the main sources driving the plastic pollution crisis in the Levant Basin. Land-based sources are responsible for the majority of the pollution that’s dumped into the region’s waters. Countries surrounding the Levant Basin, specifically Egypt and Turkey, have been recognized as major players in this ecological existential crisis.
This brought into focus a puzzling phenomenon noted by Dr. Yael Segal — the very high concentration of plastic debris found in this region. Unfortunately, that’s become the norm,” she said. “For years, our monitoring reports have chronicled this sad twist. Until now, that is, because it was a mystery — plastic debris usually makes itself known by floating on the surface of the sea. Today, though, we finally learned how it occurs.”
The study’s unique approach pinpointed the sources of these microplastics. For the first time, it showed how these particles are spread throughout deep-sea environments. This knowledge is key for creating the most impactful mitigation strategies.
The Need for Coordinated Action
The results of this study unequivocally demonstrate the pressing need to address plastic pollution throughout the Levant Basin. Solving this problem requires collective action from all countries that are custodians to this important ocean treasure. Prof. Bookman stressed the importance of systematic monitoring and management: “Without systematic deep-sea accounting, we risk underestimating the true environmental footprint of plastic pollution and misallocating mitigation efforts by neglecting offshore and deep-sea sinks.”
She went on to stress that coordinated, basin-wide monitoring is critical to developing the integrated, upstream strategies that will help us more effectively tackle transboundary pollution. As countries such as Egypt and Turkey continue to bear the weight of their roles in this human-made catastrophe, cooperation will be key.