New research suggests that a specific type of Mediterranean sea grass has been found to help the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean. The grass naturally captures plastic particles as they move through with the current and an estimated 867 million pieces are collected annually in the Mediterranean.
The fragments are taken in “neptune balls” which are dense masses formed by the fallen blades of the seagrass( P. oceanica) and taken back to the shore through beaching. Plastic debris can stay in the ocean for decades before degrading, which puts aquatic animals and organisms at risk. This process of removing the polluted plastic can be a game changing low-cost partner in the fight to save the ocean.
The findings from this study have also raised more awareness to preserve these seagrasses as they also provide coastal protection, fisheries support and greenhouse gas absorption. The remains of the P. oceanica specifically absorb wave energy which prevents coastal erosion while additionally providing nutrients and moisture for dune vegetation. While seagrasses are proving to be a big ally, scientists have found that 1.5% of seagrass beds have disappeared yearly and near one-third have vanished since 1879. Some causes of this have been invasive species, climate change and human activities that occur along the coast. The ocean is a natural resource that needs to be taken care of and helped. This means that we as a society should work our hardest along with the organisms in it and also protect them.
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