Characterization of seafloor litter on Mediterranean shallow coastal waters: Evidence from Dive Against Debris®, a citizen science monitoring approach

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2020-01, Vol.150, p.110763-110763, Article 110763
• Main Authors: Consoli, Pierpaolo, Scotti, Gianfranco, Romeo, Teresa, Fossi, Maria Cristina, Esposito, Valentina, D'Alessandro, Michela, Battaglia, Pietro, Galgani, Francois, Figurella, Fabio, Pragnell-Raasch, Hannah, Andaloro, Franco
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Beverage cans; Citizen Science; Coastal waters; Debris; Distribution; Diving; Environmental Monitoring; GSA; Life Sciences; Litter; Marine debris; Mediterranean Sea; Ocean floor; Plastic; Plastic debris; Plastics; Pollution; Recreational divers; Seafloor litter; Seawater - chemistry; Spatial data; Surveying; Typology; Waste Products; Water Pollutants - analysis
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110763

Citizen science programs carried out by volunteers are fundamental for the collection of scientific data on a wide spatial scale. From 2011 to 2018, 468 survey dives were conducted in 172 coastal locations of the Mediterranean Sea through Project AWARE's citizen science program, Dive Against Debris®. During the dives, information was collected on quantity, typology and distribution of seafloor litter in shallow coastal waters. Overall, the observed average density was 43.55 items/100 m2 and plastic was largely the dominant material (55% of the total collected items) on basin scale. The most abundant seafloor litter items were plastic fragments with 9.46%, followed by beverage cans (7.45%). Single-use plastic items constituted 33% of the total marine litter. The results of the study can be used to inform policymakers of the European Community towards specific management action to contrast the marine litter in relation to the distribution of the recorded litter category. •Seafloor marine litter was visually assessed in the Mediterranean through a citizen science program.•From 2011 to 2018, 468 survey dives were performed by recreational divers.•The mean litter density at Mediterranean scale was 43.55 items/100 m2.•Plastic debris represented the most abundant category (55%).•Single-use plastic items constituted 33% of the total marine litter.