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Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins

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Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095839

Type: Publication

Year: 2014

Citations: 675

AZORES DEEP-SEA RESEARCH
Publication Open access April 2014

Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins

PLoS ONE

10.1371/journal.pone.0095839
Open DOI
Total authors
22
Involved team members
2
Citations
675
References
94

Citations by year

13 years
2026
5
2025
87
2024
42
2023
62
2022
75
2021
81
2020
83
2019
76
2018
56
2017
45
2016
28
2015
26
2014
9

Abstract

Anthropogenic litter is present in all marine habitats, from beaches to the most remote points in the oceans. On the seafloor, marine litter, particularly plastic, can accumulate in high densities with deleterious consequences for its inhabitants. Yet, because of the high cost involved with sampling the seafloor, no large-scale assessment of distribution patterns was available to date. Here, we present data on litter distribution and density collected during 588 video and trawl surveys across 32 sites in European waters. We found litter to be present in the deepest areas and at locations as remote from land as the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The highest litter density occurs in submarine canyons, whilst the lowest density can be found on continental shelves and on ocean ridges. Plastic was the most prevalent litter item found on the seafloor. Litter from fishing activities (derelict fishing lines and nets) was particularly common on seamounts, banks, mounds and ocean ridges. Our results highlight the extent of the problem and the need for action to prevent increasing accumulation of litter in marine environments.

Authors

2 involved team members
C
Christopher K. Pham
0000-0002-3556-0492

Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal

+2 more

E
Eva Ramirez-Llodra
0000-0003-0137-1906

Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Marine Biology section, Oslo, Norway

+2 more

C
Claudia H. S. Alt

Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom

M
Melanie Bergmann
0000-0001-5212-9808

Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany

M
Miquel Canals
0000-0001-5267-7601

GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d′Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain

+1 more

G
Gerard Duineveld
0000-0002-6902-0937

Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom

+1 more

F
François Galgani
0000-0002-8137-4068

Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands

+1 more

K
Kerry L. Howell
0000-0001-8770-6054

Institut Français de Recherche pour l′Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Bastia, France

+1 more

V
Veerle A. I. Huvenne
0000-0003-3359-1778

Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom

+1 more

E
Eduardo Isidro
0000-0001-7135-6360

National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom

+1 more

D
Daniel O. B. Jones
0000-0003-2108-7363

Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal

+2 more

G
Galderic Lastras
0000-0001-5218-1649

National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom

+1 more

Telmo Morato
Telmo Morato Team member
0000-0002-8756-3855

GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d′Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain

+1 more

A
Autun Purser
0000-0002-4351-3522

Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal

+2 more

I
Inês Tojeira
0000-0002-5590-6972

British Geological Survey, Murchison House, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

+1 more

X
Xavier Tubau
0000-0001-5778-6196

Portuguese Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC), Paço de Arcos, Portugal

+1 more

D
David Van Rooij
0000-0002-3918-0331

GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d′Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain

+1 more

P
Paul A. Tyler
0000-0003-3633-3344

Renard Centre of Marine Geology (RCMG), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

+1 more

Record details

Type
article
Language
EN
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
e95839–e95839
ISSN
1932-6203

Keywords

Marine debris Litter Seamount Oceanography Seafloor spreading Continental shelf Environmental science Fishery Ridge Fishing Geology Ecology Biology Paleontology Debris

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Governo dos Açores
Oceano Azul
Eurofleets
FCT
FCT Investigador
Governo dos Açores
Portugal 2020
Rolex
RP
RP Ciência
União Europeia

Location

Institute of Marine Sciences — Okeanos, University of the Azores

Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas — Universidade dos Açores

Rua Prof. Doutor Frederico Machado, No. 4
9901-862 Horta, Portugal

Contact

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