First assessment of floating marine litter abundance and distribution in the Bay of Biscay from an integrated ecosystem survey

In the Bay of Biscay, regional monitoring programmes and data on abundance and distribution of floating marine litter are scarce, contrary to many other European marine regions. Here, a joint analysis of multiyear observations (2017–2019) of floating micro and macrolitter and oceanographic condition...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2022-01, Vol.174, p.113266-113266, Article 113266
Main Authors: Ruiz, Irene, Burgoa, Iñaki, Santos, María, Basurko, Oihane C., García-Barón, Isabel, Louzao, Maite, Beldarrain, Beatriz, Kukul, Deniz, Valle, Claudia, Uriarte, Ainhize, Rubio, Anna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Bay of Biscay
Bays
Decision making
Distribution
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Floating
Floating marine litter
International cooperation
Litter
Marine debris
Marine pollution
Monitoring
Neuston
Plastic
Plastics
Surveying
Waste Products - analysis
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Summary:In the Bay of Biscay, regional monitoring programmes and data on abundance and distribution of floating marine litter are scarce, contrary to many other European marine regions. Here, a joint analysis of multiyear observations (2017–2019) of floating micro and macrolitter and oceanographic conditions was conducted for the Bay of Biscay by combining microlitter samplings with neuston nets and vessel-based macrolitter observations. Results show spatiotemporal abundance and distribution patterns. The density of floating microlitter increased from 26,056 items/km2 in 2017 to 1,802,4611 items/km2 in 2019; floating macrolitter densities barely varied amongst year (2.52 items/km2 in 2017 and 3.70 items/km2 in 2019). No significant correlation was found between densities of micro and macrolitter, neither for the oceanographic variables. We conclude that longer micro and macrolitter monitoring periods and standardized datasets based on the cross-border cooperation are needed to collect more comparable information, evaluate trends, and support decision making in the area. •A combined assessment of macro and microlitter was done for the Bay of Biscay.•An average of 3.13 (macro) and 756,865 (micro) items/km2 were observed.•Packaging, other plastic items and plastic bottles were the most abundant items.•No correlation between densities and oceanographic variables was observed.•Integrated ecosystem surveys are a good platform for monitoring marine litter.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.113266