Occurrence of Marine Litter in the Marine Environment: A World Panorama of Floating and Seafloor Plastics

2017 ◽  
pp. 93-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Ioakeimidis ◽  
François Galgani ◽  
George Papatheodorou
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Litter

scholarly journals Floating Marine Litter in Eastern Mediterranean From Macro to Microplastics: The Lebanese Coastal Area as a Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharif Jemaa ◽  
Celine Mahfouz ◽  
Maria Kazour ◽  
Myriam Lteif ◽  
Abed El Rahman Hassoun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Coastal Area ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Pollution Load Index ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Sources Of Pollution ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Despite emerging and increasing concerns related to marine micro and macroplastics, no systematic surveys have been undertaken yet in the Lebanese marine area. To understand the spatio-temporal variation of plastic litter (macro and microplastics) in the Lebanese marine environment and to determine the sources of pollution, this study investigated the characteristics of plastic pollution in sea surface waters during wet and dry seasons in 22 sites of Beirut and Tyre regions. A total of 23,023 items were identified and assessed according to the shape, color, and concentration; moreover, the risk of microplastics (MPs) contamination was explored based on a risk assessment model. The obtained results demonstrated that the average macroplastics concentration was 0.45 ± 0.6 items/m3. The average microplastics concentration was found to be 20.1 ± 21.8 and 3.78 ± 5.2 items/m3 in spring and fall respectively. During fall, MPs fragments were dominant in Beirut (97%) and Tyre (91%), and no pellets were observed. During spring, filaments were most encountered in Beirut (76.5%). The most dominant marine litter color was blue followed by black and white. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) values showed a moderate contamination of the Lebanese coast with MPs (PLI: 5.79 ± 3.93) except for several sites in Beirut that showed high values of PLI, highlighting the local influence of cities and rivers on MPs concentration. This study serves as an important baseline for understanding the characteristics of the seasonal variation of MPs along the Lebanese marine environment; it will help stakeholders and countries to take proactive and reactive actions to face plastic litter pollution in the Lebanese coastal area.

Protection of the Marine Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-211
Author(s):  
Margaret A. Young
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
General Obligation ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trade Measures

Abstract The general obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment is contained in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Increasingly, marine issues are addressed in regional or multilateral trade agreements, including the covered agreements of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This article examines selected legal developments, such as provisions in regional trade agreements on marine capture fisheries, marine litter and waste management infrastructure. Rules on the use of trade measures to eliminate harmful fishing practices, and the prohibition of certain subsidies, are also explored. The article calls for attention to the impact of these developments on dispute settlement between states under UNCLOS, support for marine protected areas, and the capacity for regime interaction between relevant bodies. These issues have relevance for the conservation of marine living resources as well as other issues relating to the protection of the marine environment, including marine plastics and climate change.

scholarly journals Marine litter within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1055-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Galgani ◽  
G. Hanke ◽  
S. Werner ◽  
L. De Vrees
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Monitoring Methods ◽  
Marine Strategy Framework Directive ◽  
Member States ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Monitoring Strategies ◽  
Directorate General ◽  
Monitoring Protocols ◽  
Available Information

Abstract Galgani, F., Hanke, G., Werner, S., and De Vrees, L. 2013. Marine litter within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 1055–1064. There have been numerous anthropogenic-driven changes to our planet in the last half-century. One of the most evident changes is the ubiquity and abundance of litter in the marine environment. The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) establishes a framework within which EU Member States shall take action to achieve or maintain good environmental status (GES) of their marine waters by 2020. GES is based on 11 qualitative descriptors as listed in Annex I of the MSFD. Descriptor 10 (D 10) concerns marine litter. As a follow-up to the related Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards (2010/477/EU) in which 56 indicators for the achievement of GES are proposed, the EC Directorate-General for the Environment, on the request of the European Marine Directors, established a Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter (TSG ML) under the Working Group on GES. The role of TSG ML is to support Member States through providing scientific and technical background for the implementation of MSFD requirements with regard to D 10. Started in 2011, TSG ML provides technical recommendations for the implementation of the MSFD requirements for marine litter. It summarizes the available information on monitoring approaches and considers how GES and environmental targets could be defined with the aim of preventing further inputs of litter to, and reducing its total amount in, the marine environment. It also identifies research needs, priorities and strategies in support of the implementation of D 10. The work of TSG ML also focuses on the specification of monitoring methods through the development of monitoring protocols for litter in the different marine compartments, and for microplastics and litter in biota. Further consideration is being given to monitoring strategies in general and associated costs. Other priorities include the identification of sources of marine litter and a better understanding of the harm caused by marine litter.

scholarly journals MARINE LITTER ON THE COAST OF THE SEA OF AZOV: STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 149-153
Author(s):  
A.V. Kleshchenkov ◽  
◽  
K.S. Sushko ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Coastal Processes ◽  
Sea Of Azov ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
The Sea Of Azov

The article is devoted to one of the most urgent problems of modern Oceanology – marine litter. The purpose of this work was to study the distribution of marine litter on the coast of the sea of Azov. The article presents the results of field expeditions, during which observations were made on an wide network of points covering various parts of the coast, which differ both in the type and direction of coastal processes, as well as in recreational load and economic development. All marine litter was divided into 12 classes and an assessment of the occurrence of various classes was performed. The regularities of the distribution of various classes of marine debris are considered and information about their quantity in different areas is provided. There is a widespread contamination of the coast of the sea of Azov with mounting foam, which is potentially dangerous in the context of microplastic pollution of the marine environment.

scholarly journals Are litter, plastic and microplastic quantities increasing in the ocean?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois Galgani ◽  
Aleke Stoefen-o Brien ◽  
Judith Weis ◽  
Christos Ioakeimidis ◽  
Qamar Schuyler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Temporal Trend ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Modelling Studies

AbstractWhilst both plastic production and inputs at sea have increased since the 1950s, several modelling studies predict a further increase in the coming years in these respective quantities. We compiled scientific literature on trends in marine litter, consisting largely of plastic and microplastics in the ocean, understanding that monitoring programs or assessments for these aspects are varied, frequently focusing on limited components of the marine environment in different locations, and covering a wide spectrum of marine litter types, with limited standardization. Here we discuss how trends in the amounts of litter in the marine environment can be compared with the information provided by models. Increasing amounts of plastic are found in some regions, especially in remote areas, but many repeated surveys and monitoring efforts have failed to demonstrate any consistent real temporal trend. An observed steady state situation of plastic quantities in many marine compartments and the fate and transport of plastic in the marine environment remain areas for much needed further research.

scholarly journals SAMPAH LAUT TANGGUNG JAWAB SIAPA? STUDI KASUS KABUPATEN ACEH BARAT

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Ika Kusumawati
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Coastal Area ◽  
Solid Material ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Marine Tourism ◽  
The World

Marine litter is solid material that has been used by people and abandoned or discarded into sewage, river, sea or marine environment. Debris problem in coastal area becomes the urgent issue and concerns many countries across the world particularly marine countries such as Indonesia. The research objective is to examine people perception towards marine litter in Aceh Barat Regency about whom responsible for eradicating marine debris. Researchers conduct the study in January to June 2018 and collect data by distributing questionnaire to 383 respondents. The result shows that 46.2% respondents believe that business activities in coastal area like cafe, hotel, and other business related to marine tourism responsible for keeping the sea clean. In similar, researchers find 38.6% respondent stated that elaminating marine debris is society duty starts from us. The final finding is 36.8% sample shows that researchers are the most motivated stakeholders for reducing marine litter.

Marine debris: A review of impacts and global initiatives

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 987-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Agamuthu ◽  
SB Mehran ◽  
A Norkhairah ◽  
A Norkhairiyah
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
United Nations Environment Programme ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Landscape Degradation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Marine debris, defined as any persistent manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment, has been highlighted as a contaminant of global environmental and economic concern. The five main categories of marine debris comprise of plastic, paper, metal, textile, glass and rubber. Plastics is recognised as the major constituent of marine debris, representing between 50% and 90% of the total marine debris found globally. Between 4.8 and 12.7 million metric tonnes of consumer plastics end up in the world oceans annually, resulting in the presence of more than 100 million particles of macroplastics in only 12 regional seas worldwide, and with 51 trillion particles of microplastic floating on the ocean surface globally. The impacts of marine debris can be branched out into three categories; injury to or death of marine organisms, harm to marine environment and effects on human health and economy. Marine mammals often accidentally ingest marine debris because of its appearance that can easily be mistaken as food. Moreover, floating plastics may act as vehicles for chemicals and/or environmental contaminants, which may be absorbed on to their surface during their use and permanence into the environment. Additionally, floating plastics is a potential vector for the introduction of invasive species that get attached to it, into the marine environment. In addition, human beings are not excluded from the impact of marine debris as they become exposed to microplastics through seafood consumption. Moreover, landscape degradation owing to debris accumulation is an eyesore and aesthetically unpleasant, thus resulting in decreased tourism and subsequent income loss. There are a wide range of initiatives that have been taken to tackle the issue of marine debris. They may involve manual removal of marine debris from coastal and aquatic environment in form of programmes and projects organised, such as beach clean-ups by scientific communities, non-governmental organizations and the removal of marine litter from Europe’s four regional seas, respectively. Other initiatives focus on assessment, reduction, prevention and management of marine debris under the umbrella of international (the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan, the Oslo/Paris Convention) and regional organisations – that is, the Helsinki Commission. There are also a number of international conventions and national regulations that encourage mitigation and management of marine debris. However, it is argued that these initiatives are short-term unsustainable solutions and the long-term sustainable solution would be adoption of circular economy. Similarly, four of the sustainable developmental goals have targets that promote mitigation of marine debris by efficient waste management and practice of 3R. As evident by the Ad Hoc Expert Group on Marine Litter and Microplastics meeting, tackling the marine debris crisis is not a straightforward, one-size-fits-all solution, but rather an integrated and continuous effort required at local, regional and global level.

Marine Litter and Waste and Tourism by C Michael Hall

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Michael Hall
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Environmental Effects ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Marine Litter ◽  
Sewage Discharge ◽  
Consumer Action ◽  
Cruise Ships ◽  
Remote Islands ◽  
Marine Waste

Marine litter and waste have been found at all ocean depths (Pham et al. 2014) and in the most remote islands (Lavers & Bond, 2017) and form one of the most important contemporary issues facing the marine environment. Growing awareness of the impacts of marine plastics (Bergmann et al., 2015), together with concerns over the environmental effects of cruise ships, especially in relation to sewage discharge (Hall et al., 2017), has meant that marine waste has gained a high media profile and generated substantial public awareness and concern. Three-quarters of all marine litter is composed of plastic and this has become a focus for government and consumer action (UNEP, 2019). However, it is important to note that although there is growing awareness of plastics in the marine environment, and particularly their impact on wildlife and beach composition, the reality is that the predominance of plastics in marine litter is not necessarily the result of relatively more plastics compared to other waste in the oceans, but its durability (Andrady, 2015).

Study on Linking a Submerged Marine Litter Collection Project to a Marine Environment and Resources Investigation Project

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeong-Hyop Kim ◽  
Cheol-Ho Jang ◽  
Gwang-Tae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment ◽  
Marine Litter

Petroleum in the Marine Environment

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (33) ◽  
pp. 22
Keyword(s):  
Marine Environment
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