Far from the beaches and busy coastlines where plastic pollution is easiest to see, scientists found evidence of a much less visible problem in the Sargasso Sea. During a 2019 Greenpeace expedition, actress Shailene Woodley joined researchers collecting samples from the remote North Atlantic ecosystem, where floating Sargassum provides habitat for marine life. As reported by Greenpeace, one sample contained 1,298 microplastic fragments, highlighting how tiny pieces of plastic can accumulate even in distant ocean waters. The findings placed the Sargasso Sea within a wider debate about marine pollution, while Woodley's involvement connected the scientific expedition with a campaign for stronger protection of international waters. Onboard analysis traced the pollution largely to single-use plastic bottles and packaging, underscoring the expedition's broader push to protect such ecosystems as fully safeguarded ocean sanctuaries.
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