Marine litter distribution and density in European seas, from the shelves to deep basins

Anthropogenic litter is present in all marine habitats, from beaches to the most remote points in the oceans. On the seafloor, marine litter, particularly plastic, can accumulate in high densities with deleterious consequences for its inhabitants. Yet, because of the high cost involved with sampling...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS ONE
Main Authors: Pham, Christopher K, Ramirez-Llodra, Eva, Alt, Claudia HS, Amaro, Teresa, Bergmann, Melanie, Canals, Miquel, Company, Joan B, Davies, Jaime, Duineveld, Gerard, Galgani, François, Howell, Kerry L, Huvenne, Veerle AI, Isidro, Eduardo, Jones, Daniel OB, Lastras, Galderic, Morato, Telmo, Gomes-Pereira, José Nubo, Purser, Autun, Stewart, Heather, Tojeira, Ines, Tubau, Xavier, Van Rooij, David, Tyler, Paul A
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Earth and Environmental Sciences
ABUNDANCE
CALIFORNIA
BEACH DEBRIS
MEDITERRANEAN-SEA
NORTHEAST ATLANTIC
GERMAN BIGHT
COASTAL WATERS
CONTINENTAL-SHELF
PLASTIC DEBRIS
SUBMARINE-CANYON
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Northeast Atlantic
Online Access:https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/5673978
http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-5673978
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095839
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/5673978/file/5674056
Description
Summary:Anthropogenic litter is present in all marine habitats, from beaches to the most remote points in the oceans. On the seafloor, marine litter, particularly plastic, can accumulate in high densities with deleterious consequences for its inhabitants. Yet, because of the high cost involved with sampling the seafloor, no large-scale assessment of distribution patterns was available to date. Here, we present data on litter distribution and density collected during 588 video and trawl surveys across 32 sites in European waters. We found litter to be present in the deepest areas and at locations as remote from land as the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The highest litter density occurs in submarine canyons, whilst the lowest density can be found on continental shelves and on ocean ridges. Plastic was the most prevalent litter item found on the seafloor. Litter from fishing activities (derelict fishing lines and nets) was particularly common on seamounts, banks, mounds and ocean ridges. Our results highlight the extent of the problem and the need for action to prevent increasing accumulation of litter in marine environments.

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