Neptune Balls
8 days ago
- #seagrass
- #microplastics
- #marine conservation
- Neptune balls, or Posidonia oceanica, are bundles of seagrass that naturally collect microplastics in the ocean.
- Researchers found that seagrass meadows can trap nearly 900 million plastic fragments annually in the Mediterranean.
- Plastic debris in Neptune balls can reach up to 1,500 pieces per kilogram, with tighter bundles trapping more plastic.
- Seagrass meadows provide vital ecosystem services, including carbon absorption and marine biodiversity support.
- Despite their role in trapping plastic, Neptune balls are not a solution to ocean plastic pollution; reducing plastic production is key.
- Seagrass populations are declining globally due to pollution, climate change, and coastal development.
- Local restoration projects, like Spain's Marine Forest and Sicily's Posidonia Gardeners, aim to revive seagrass habitats.