Visual observations of floating macro litter around Italy (Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

We report the results of a visual survey of floating natural (NML) and anthropogenic (AML) macro-litter (>2.5 cm) performed in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea during a dual-use campaign onboard the Italian Navy tall ship “Amerigo Vespucci” which circumnavigated the Italian peninsula during May-June 2016. The distribution, abundance and composition of floating marine litter were assessed using a 10 m fixed-width strip transect method. Over 88 h of transect counts were performed, for a total of 168 transects, covering an overall survey length of 1026.35 km. 4756 anthropogenic litter items were counted during the transects, 96.9 % of which were classified as plastic items. Floating litter was found throughout the entire study area with densities ranging from 0 to 9205 items/km2 and with a mean abundance of 492 AML items/km2 and 77 NML items/km2 across all surveyed locations. Maximum AML densities (>3500 items/km2) were recorded in the Adriatic Sea, while the lowest densities (<50 items/km2) were found along the coastline of Sardinia and in the Strait of Messina. Our results document the ubiquitous presence of floating plastic litter around the Italian peninsula and underline the need to expand our knowledge about the main sources, transport, accumulation and fate of marine litter in the entire Mediterranean region.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Chemically Characterized Microplastics within the Protected Area of Pelagos Sanctuary (NW Mediterranean Sea): Focus on Natural and Urban Beaches

“…The reported data showed that there was a fairly large range of values (from 22 to 1934 g/km 2 ), but noted that the area of the north-western Tyrrhenian Sea presented the greatest abundance. The latest studies that have focused on the floating ML in the Mediterranean, and in particular, in the waters surrounding the Italian peninsula, confirmed this [54,61,74]. The coasts included in these marine areas within the Pelagos Sanctuary are of extreme environmental importance, as they are rich in parks and MPAs located both near urban areas and in places that are not easily accessible and far from sources of direct pollution.…”

First record of ‘plasticrusts’ and ‘pyroplastic’ from the Mediterranean Sea

“…1 A-C). Floating plastic debris is common off Madeira (Chambault et al 2018) and Giglio (Campanale et al 2019). However, while Madeira is an isolated off-shore island exposed to open Atlantic waves, Giglio is a nearshore island that is relatively wave-sheltered among larger nearby islands (Elba, Corsica and Sardinia) and the Italian mainland.…”

“…To date, most studies on marine plastic pollution examined pelagic environments (e.g. Chambault et al 2018, Campanale et al 2019. In contrast, there has been surprisingly little research on plastic debris in rocky intertidal habitats.…”

“…However, to consider novel plastic debris types in marine conservation policy (Gestoso et al 2019) it is necessary to investigate whether 'plasticrusts' and 'pyroplastics' occur on other coasts as well. Since plastic pollution in the Tyrrhenian Sea (European Mediterranean) is relatively high (Campanale et al 2019), we examined for the first time the occurrence of 'plasticrusts' and 'pyroplastics' on Tyrrhenian Sea coasts.…”

First record of ‘plasticrusts’ and ‘pyroplastic’ from the European Mediterranean Sea

“…However, to consider novel plastic debris types in marine conservation policy it is necessary to investigate whether 'plasticrusts' and 'pyroplastics' occur on other coasts as well. Since plastic pollution in the Tyrrhenian Sea (European Mediterranean) is relatively high (Campanale et al 2019), we examined for the first time the occurrence of 'plasticrusts' and 'pyroplastics' on Tyrrhenian Sea coasts.…”