BARCELONA – In a surprising discovery, researchers from the University of Barcelona have found that fibrous balls of dried seagrass, known as “Neptune balls,” are naturally trapping and removing large amounts of plastic waste from the Mediterranean Sea. These bundles, formed by the seagrass species Posidonia oceanica, are acting as an unexpected ally in the fight against ocean pollution.
Nature’s Accidental Filters
The study, published in Scientific Reports, found that these Neptune balls can contain up to 1,500 plastic fragments per kilogram. The balls are formed when the seagrass sheds its leaves, and ocean currents roll the fibers into dense spheres. This rolling process captures and physically locks in tiny plastic fragments, microplastics, and other debris that would otherwise remain floating in the water.
While not a complete solution, this natural “clean-up system” highlights the critical role of seagrass meadows not only as vital marine habitats and carbon sinks but also as natural filters for plastic waste. This finding underscores the significant scale of plastic pollution and the intricate ways in which nature is responding to the damage.