The accumulation of plastic in the oceans and its impact on marine life are topics that have been the subject of environmental discussions for years. However, a new twist in this debate has left many environmentalists perplexed: a group of scientists suggests that we should pause plastic cleanup efforts in the oceans.
The idea comes from studies led by Rebecca Helm, a marine biologist at the University of North Carolina Asheville, who along with other researchers has observed that certain organisms known as neuston are using floating plastic as their home. Neuston includes organisms that live on the surface of the ocean, such as algae, bacteria, and small animals invisible to the naked eye. These organisms play vital roles in the ecological balance of the ocean, from maintaining food webs to facilitating gas exchange between the sea and the atmosphere.
Scientists have found evidence that these organisms thrive in areas such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a huge accumulation of floating plastic also known as the “seventh continent.” Helm warns that Cleaning up these plastics could eliminate entire ecosystems that we still do not fully understand and that could be irreplaceable.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a symbol of the environmental crisis. Despite this, researchers argue that these areas may have evolved into habitats for organisms adapted to these unique conditions. According to Helm, what appears to be a contaminated area could be an unstudied ecosystemmade up of species that depend on plastic to survive.
Large-scale cleanup efforts, such as those promoted by environmental organizations, could have unintended consequences. “We could be destroying an important ecosystem without even realizing it”says Helm.
This debate highlights an environmental dilemma: while plastic remains a considerable threat, hasty responses could cause collateral damage. The scientists They do not propose to abandon the fight against plastic pollutionbut rather adopt a more informed and reflective approach.