News

Northern Pacific seastar

A new study has shown that the tsunami that hit northeastern Japan in 2011, triggered a massive influx of invasive species up and down the coastlines of North America. How many invasive species? 289! With more arriving all the time scientists are concerned. As materials such as wood are biodegradable, plastic doesn't decompose. These species were able to hitch a ride across the biggest ocean on our planet via plastic waste.

The critters big and small have been found as far north as Alaska and down to California. 6 years after the 39 meter high tsunami, species such as starfish and mussels keep arriving. The new study was recently published in the Journal Science. As climate change continues and plastic waste in our oceans multiply invasive species could become a major problem.

Read more here.