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Marine creatures and plants typically found in coastal regions have found new ways to survive in the open ocean by colonizing plastic pollution, scientists say.

Coastal plants and animals have found a new way to survive in the open ocean—by colonizing plastic pollution. A new commentary published Dec. 2 in

Researchers still have questions about these new plastic-living communities, but the discovery could change ocean ecosystems on a global scale.

The buildup of plastic in the ocean is a real problem. During the past decade or so, U.S. and European lawmakers’ “answer” has come in the form of bans, regulations, or taxes on various single-use plastic products. Yet such policies will do little to resolve the issue because they don’t address the key sources of the problem — particularly the fact that the waste emanates from Asia, Africa, and South America.

A new study points out a new way to turn the plastic waste that ocean cleanup vessels collect into sustainable oil fuel that could power the same vessels.