Development and testing of a prototype indicator-based tool for identification of potential problem areas for marine litter in Europe's seas
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol.905, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- 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.