It is no secret that the excessive use of plastic has become a curse to nature and earth’s bio-diversity. Organisations across the globe are trying to make efforts to bring a change in the given scenario by introducing plastic bans in certain sectors, and encouraging the use of paper bags and re-usable straws.
While we all know that plastic eventually makes it’s way in to the sea and oceans, proving to be a hazard for the aquatic life.
Also Read: IIT Guwahati Creates India’s First Biodegradable Plastic
But what do you expect to find at the bottom of the sea, where the pressures are up to 1000 times more than they are at a higher level, and very little life survives? You’ll be surprised to know that the answer remains ‘plastic’.
On May 13th, Victor Vescovo, a retired American Naval office, explorer and private equity investor made the deepest dive known to mankind in his submarine, DSV Limiting Factor. Over the past few weeks, Vescova and his team dove to the bottom of the ocean five times to collect rocks and other biological samples to study the world’s deepest ecosystem.
Also Read: Goa Tightens Rules On Plastic Ban
But what they found at Challenger Deep, located in the Southern end of the Mariana Trench wasn’t a part of the natural ecosystem. He went 10,927 m (11 km) deep, that is till the bed of the Mariana Trench which is said to be the deepest point on the ocean bed, and was surprised to find it littered with a plastic bag and a few candy wrappers!
Shocking as it may sound, it is true. We collectively produce about 300m tons of plastic every year. A lot of this ends up in waste that makes its way to the oceans and rivers.
If this angers you as well, it is time to take our own little steps in order to bring a change and preserve the world’s oceans and the life it supports.