Shipping ‘skid mark’ detected in the North Sea

An image showing ship paint

Source: © Getty Images

Antifouling coatings are an underestimated source of plastic pollution

Boats might be much bigger sources of microplastic pollution than previously thought, according to a new report by researchers in Germany. It finds that up to 80% of microplastics in the surface waters of North Sea estuaries and shipping lanes could derive from paints used to protect ships’ hulls from barnacles and other organisms.