Marine litter is one descriptor in the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). This study provides the first account of an MSFD indicator (Trends in the amount of litter deposited on coastlines) for the north-western Adriatic. Five beaches were sampled in 2015. Plastic dominated in terms of abundance, followed by paper and other groups. The average density was 0.2 litter items m(-2), but at one beach it raised to 0.57 items m(-2). The major categories were cigarette butts, unrecognizable plastic pieces, bottle caps, and others. The majority of marine litter came from land-based sources: shoreline and recreational activities, smoke-related activities and dumping. Sea-based sources contributed for less. The abundance and distribution of litter seemed to be particularly influenced by beach users, reflecting inadequate disposal practices. The solution to these problems involves implementation and enforcement of local educational and management policies.

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Growth and secondary production of the shallow-water g o~g o n i a n Paramuncea clavata (Rlsso, 1826) were lnvest~gated at an infral~ttoral rocky statlon located at the northern entrance of the Stralt of Messlna (Tyrrhenlan Sea, southern Italy) Colonles were aged by countlng the number of annual growth nngs at the base of the skeleton Mean annual linear growth rates were calculated both by fleld measurements (tagging) and by flttlng a Bertalanffy growth equation for the species Growth rates were 2 7 and 3 0 cm yr.' lespectively Secondary productlon was estimated by means of an ~ncrement-summation method The estlmate was qulte conservative, because ~t dld not take into account production lost by nonlethal predation, and yielded 3 0 g ash-free dry weight (AFDW) m yr ' Standing stock biomass was 22 5 g AFDW m-2 Annual PIB ratio was 0 13 and turnover time 7 5 yr

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