Plastic debris accumulates in the marine environment following its use
in agricultural, industrial and social activities. Its ultimate fate
is accomodation in sediments where it may persist for times up to cent
uries or longer. There appears to be an increasing flux of materials w
ith time and an increased areal coverage of the benthos. Impacts upon
bottom organisms can take many forms. Systematic monitoring tactics fo
r the extent of seafloor coverage by plastics are yet to be incorporat
ed into national programs.