An ecosystem-scale litter and microplastics monitoring plan under the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)

• Published in: Arctic Science
• Main Authors: Jennifer Provencher, Tanja Kögel, Amy Lusher, Katrin Vorkamp, Alessio Gomiero, Ilka Peeken, Maria Granberg, Sjúrður Hammer, Julia Baak, Jan Rene Larsen, Eivind Farmen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2022
• Subjects: Arctic; debris; spatial and temporal trends; baseline; monitoring; Arctique; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Environmental engineering; TA170-171; AMAP; Arctique*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2021-0059; https://doaj.org/article/dc572f2ccc4f416a96beac5b6faeca36

Lack of knowledge on levels and trends of litter and microplastics in the Arctic, is limiting our understanding of the sources, transport, fate, and effects is hampering global activities aimed at reducing litter and microplastics in the environment. To obtain a holistic view to managing litter and microplastics in the Arctic, we considered the current state of knowledge and methods for litter and microplastics monitoring in eleven environmental compartments representing the marine, freshwater, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. Based on available harmonized methods, and existing data in the Arctic, we recommend prioritization of implementing litter and microplastics monitoring in the Arctic in four Priority 1 compartments—water, aquatic sediments, shorelines, and seabirds. One or several of these compartments should be monitored to provide benchmark data for litter and microplastics in the Arctic and, in the future, data on spatial and temporal trends. For the other environmental compartments, methods should be refined for future sources and surveillance monitoring, as well as monitoring of effects. Implementation of the monitoring activities should include community-based local components where possible. While organized as national and regional programs, monitoring of litter and microplastics in the Arctic should be coordinated, with a view to future pan-Arctic assessments.