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RE: Plastic waste in the ocean has been found to have a twentyfold increase of disease in corals; adding one more threat to the list of things that could potentially kill corals
Sad to hear! I have not heard that plastic is detrimental to coral before, but it makes sense. And as you mentioned, corals are very vulnerable organisms. I have no idea how we are going to fight this plastic in the ocean disease. My rational mind tells me it is already too late. On the other hand, Mother Nature is pretty adaptable herself. Perhaps we get a new super bacteria that just love eating plastics?
Fighting the ever growing amount of plastic in the ocean seem hopeless at times.. Even when doing beach cleaning events, they tend to fill up with new plastic within a few weeks. But I think there is hope, but not if we don't find a way to stop the plastic of reaching the ocean in the first place! If we start by stopping the plastic pollution, cleaning up could be possible, but sadly I don't think the world is ready to stop using as much plastic as it does just yet.
A little digression, but my wife actually attempted to live as plastic-less as possible a while back, but had to give up. Most of us don't think about it, but we do use plastic for pretty much everything! Just try to go shopping groceries without buying anything that is packed in a plastic container, and you will get very limited options..
There hasn't been a bacteria that can break down plastic, but the fungi Aspergillus tubingensis has shown potential in lab conditions.