Deeper coral reefs are the most affected by plastic pollution

No part of the planet is free of plastic waste, and coral reefs are no exception, but scientists have now made the discovery that the deeper the reef, the more plastic debris is likely to be found.

- Karen McVeigh

A study published in the journal Nature found that not only was every coral reef encumbered with plastic, but almost three-quarters of the larger items were from "ghost gear" - fishing equipment such as ropes, lines and nets. Food wrappers and plastic bottles were also common.

The plastic constituted an "emerging threat" to reefs already stressed by the climate crisis and overfishing, the researchers said.