Development and testing of a prototype indicator-based tool for identification of potential problem areas for marine litter in Europe's seas

Murray C. J., van Bavel B., KIDEYŞ A. E., Lusher A. L., Reker J., Šubelj G., ...More

SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol.905, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 905
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167096
  • Journal Name: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Analytical Abstracts, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Geobase, Greenfile, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Indicators, Integrated assessment, Marine litter, Microplastic, Problem areas
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We demonstrate a prototype multi-metric indicator-based assessment tool (i.e. Marine Litter Assessment Tool MALT) for mapping and identification of 'problem areas' and 'non-problem areas' regarding the occurrence of marine litter in Europe's seas. The study is based on a European-wide data set consisting of three marine litter indicators: (1) litter at the seafloor, (2) beach litter and (3) floating micro-litter. This publicly available data allowed litter status to be determined in 1,957,081 km2 (19.1 %) of the total area of Europe's seas (10,243,474 km2). Of the area assessed, 25.8 % (505,030 km2) was found to be 'non-problem areas' whilst 'problem areas' accounted for 74.2 % (1,452,051 km2). This indicates that marine litter is a large-scale problem in Europe's seas.