Marine debris observed in the North Pacific during Oshoro-maru cruise in 2012

• Main Authors: Mitani, Yoko, Iwahara, Yuka, Otsuki, Mayuko, Nishizawa, Bungo, Mizuguchi, Daisuke, Haba, Shota, Sekiguchi, Keiko, Mizuno, Hirona, Sakurai, Yasunori
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 北海道大学大学院水産科学研究院
• Subjects: Marine debris; North Pacific; Visual survey; Neuston net; 660; Bering Sea; Pacific; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/54878

The distribution and abundance of marine debris were investigated by visual survey and a neuston net in the North Pacific and Bering Sea during the T/S Oshoro Maru cruise from June to August 2012. The observed debris included pieces of plastic, plastic and glass bottles, metallic objects, glass, and fishing gear. The concentrations of plastic sampled by a neuston net were higher in the Transition Zone than those in the Subarctic North Pacific and Bering Sea. The abundance and weight of these small plastic pieces collected by a neuston net did not significantly increase from 1980s. Long-term monitoring and information sharing are important in concert with related countries and organizations.