Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins
Universidade dos Açores · Institute of Marine Research · +13 more institutions
Abstract
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…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 20.93
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 94
Authors
22- CKChristopher K. PhamCorresponding
Universidade dos Açores, Institute of Marine Research
- EREva Ramírez-Llodra
Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Institut Català de Ciències del Clima, Institut de Ciències del Mar
- CHClaudia H. S. Alt
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton
- TATeresa Amaro
Norwegian Institute for Water Research
- MBMelanie Bergmann
Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung
Topics & keywords
- Marine debris
- Litter
- Seamount
- Oceanography
- Seafloor spreading
- Continental shelf
- Environmental science
- Fishery
- Life below water
Funding
- FRFundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia
- IFInstitut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la MerAward: 2009 SGR 1305
- AGAustralian Government
- SRSight Research UKAwards: noc010009, NE/C51297X/1, NE/C513018/1, NE/C512996/1, noc010011, NE/C51300X/1, NE/C512961/1, bgs05015, NE/C512988/1
- DFDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- BFBelgian Federal Science Policy Office
- GDGeneralitat de CatalunyaAwards: SGR 1305, 2009 SGR 1305
- MDMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad
- KBKoninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen
- NENatural Environment Research CouncilAwards: NE/C512996/1, NE/C512988/1, NE/C51300X/1, noc010011, NE/C513018/1, bgs05015, noc010009, NE/C51297X/1, NE/C512961/1, 226354
- LLeibniz-Gemeinschaft
- FPFundação para a Ciência e a TecnologiaAwards: COMPETE, PEst-OE/EEI/LA0009/2011
- NGNorway Grants
- ESEuropean Social Fund