Human Trash Found at Record Depths in the Mediterranean’s Calypso Deep

March 12, 2025 – Scientists have discovered human litter at a depth of 5,112 meters (3.2 miles) in the Mediterranean Sea, marking one of the highest concentrations of deep-sea waste ever recorded. The debris was identified in Calypso Deep, the Mediterranean’s deepest point, located off the southwestern coast of Greece in the Ionian Sea.

Shocking Levels of Deep-Sea Pollution

A recent submarine expedition using the Limiting Factor, a deep-submergence vehicle, uncovered 167 objects at the sea floor. Of these, 148 were confirmed as marine debris, while 19 were likely of human origin. Scientists say this proves that marine waste reaches even the planet’s most remote and extreme depths.

"Unfortunately, as far as the Mediterranean is concerned, it would not be wrong to say that not a single inch of it is clean," said Miquel Canals of the University of Barcelona.

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How Trash Reaches the Ocean Depths

Experts suggest the litter arrives via:

• Plastic waste drifting from coastal waters.
• Ocean currents carrying debris from distant sources.
• Illegal dumping from boats, evidenced by piles of trash with linear tracks in the sediment.

Since Calypso Deep is a closed depression, weak currents prevent the debris from escaping, trapping waste at the bottom. Scientists noted that plastic bags and other lightweight waste slowly sink before being buried or breaking into microplastics.

Urgent Calls for Global Action

The Mediterranean Sea ranks among the most polluted in the world, with hotspots like the Strait of Messina accumulating massive amounts of litter. Scientists stress the need for:

• Stronger global policies, including the UN Global Plastics Treaty.
• Reduced plastic consumption and waste at both individual and corporate levels.
• Greater awareness of deep-sea conservation, as most people remain unaware of pollution at extreme depths.

"The problem is enormous, even if it is not directly visible. We should not forget about it," Canals warned.

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