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Particle size plays an important role in determining the behaviour, fate and effects of microplastics (MPs), yet little is known about MPs in-situ. Using a modified manta net, we demonstrate that MPs were present in all marine surface water samples, with a mean sea surface concentration of 0.23 ± 0.03 particles m-3. Microplastics were mainly blue, clear and black fibres and fragments, consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene plastic polymers. Tourism and marine recreation were considered the major contributing sources of MPs to surface waters around the Whitsunday Islands. Between 10 and 124 times the number of MPs exist in the 50 um – 300 um size class, compared with the 1 mm – 5 mm size range, indicating the global abundance of small MPs in marine surface waters is grossly underestimated and warrants further investigation. Research into the occurrence, characteristics and environmental fate of MPs Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/426057/document, In MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano

Particle size plays an important role in determining the behaviour, fate and effects of microplastics (MPs), yet little is known about MPs

The seafloor covers some 70% of the Earth’s surface and has been recognised as a major sink for marine litter. Still, litter on the seafloor is the least investigated fraction of marine litter, which is not surprising as most of it lies in the deep sea, i.e. the least explored ecosystem. Although marine litter is considered a major threat for the oceans, monitoring frameworks are still being set up. This paper reviews current knowledge and methods, identifies existing needs, and points to future developments that are required to address the estimation of seafloor macrolitter. It provides background knowledge and conveys the views and thoughts of scientific experts on seafloor marine litter offering a review of monitoring and ocean modelling techniques. Knowledge gaps that need to be tackled, data needs for modelling, and data comparability and harmonisation are also discussed. In addition, it shows how research on seafloor macrolitter can inform international protection and conservation frameworks to prioritise efforts and measures against marine litter and its deleterious impacts.

VCU Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to compare and contrast the quantity and composition of sponges caught by bottom trawls and bottom longlines, on selected locations of the Hatton Bank and surrounding areas.

Executive Summary Standard criteria and indicators to assess the most relevant effects of discards on MSFD descriptors are required to ensure that the evaluation of the Discard Mitigation Strategies suggested in DiscardLess focuses on aspects relevant to the Good Environmental Status. The descriptors considered in DiscardLess to evaluate whether the Discard Mitigation Strategies promote GES are: the descriptors D1 (biodiversity), D3 (commercial fish and shellfish), D4 (food web), D5 (eutrophication) and D6 (sea-floor integrity). DiscardLess uses a selection of the simulation models developed with Ecopath with Ecosim, OSMOSE, Atlantis, ISIS-Fish, and StrathE2E to assess the outcomes of scenarios in different case studies based on standard criteria. In D1.2, DiscardLess defined the criteria and indicators to be used in determining the effects of discards on marine ecosystems. Indicators were defined for the following criteria: population abundance or biomass (D1), population demographic characteristics (D1), composition and relative proportions of ecosystem components (D1), fishing mortality (D3), spawning stock biomass (D3), proportion of fish larger than the mean size of maturity (D3), performance of key predator species using their production per unit biomass (D4), proportion of large fish (D4), abundance trends of functionally groups or species (D4), nutrients concentration in the water column (D5), chlorophyll concentration in the water column (D5), dissolved oxygen changes and size of the area concerned (D5), and bottom trawling effort maps (D6). Discard Mitigation Strategies will be translated into scenarios and assessed by using projections. Resulting time series of criteria will be compared across strategies and to the baseline scenarios.