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Out of season: the plastic footprint of tourism: Seafloor surveys in Mallorca and Valencia
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the surface water and sediments of a large tropical river in Southeast Asia, finding widespread particle distribution across the entire river length with highest concentrations in the densely populated lower basin. The study estimated the annual flux of microplastics to the ocean via this single river as equivalent to a meaningful fraction of global riverine inputs.
Plastic pollution on the seafloor has an irreversible impact on marine ecosystems and can seriously affect the health and behavior of wildlife. Such waste transforms seafloor habitats that are rich in flora and fauna into marine landfills, where plastics accumulate yet can go unnoticed because they are not visible from shore. This problem can be particularly pronounced in places where large quantities of single-use plastics are used and discarded close to the sea, such as in coastal locations that are popular with tourists. As part of a global project to investigate the extent of seabed plastics in biodiverse sites with high levels of tourism, Oceana scientists and divers surveyed a dozen different habitat types (including corals, sandy bottoms, and algal forests) along the coast of Valencia, and in six marine habitats on the island of Mallorca. The underwater surveys were conducted outside the tourist season and, in the case of Valencia, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, we nevertheless found large quantities of plastic waste in every habitat type documented. The most frequently observed items were single-use plastics, such as bags, food wrappers, packaging, cutlery, and drinking containers, as well as abandoned fishing gear. Healthcare items, such as disposable masks and gloves, were also observed, in addition to other types of garbage. Wildlife, including several threatened species, was filmed in plastic-polluted areas, at risk of ingesting plastic fragments, growing upon them, or entangled in plastic debris. In other cases, species were settled on moving plastic pieces that can be transported outside their habitats. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the excessive use of plastics is directly impacting delicate underwater habitats and the species that live in them. Our results add urgency to the need for plastic-free coastal regions, restaurants, and tourist resorts, and for significant reductions in the production of single-use plastics (SUPs).
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Nearshore spatio-temporal sea surface trawls of plastic debris in the Balearic Islands.
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Monthly manta net trawls at seven nearshore sites around Mallorca found plastic debris in every trawl, with microplastics dominating (74% by count), polyethylene as the most common polymer (70%), and August showing nearly double the debris of other months. The study reveals high spatial heterogeneity and seasonal peaks in nearshore Mediterranean microplastic pollution linked to coastal tourism and ocean dynamics.
Spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics along the touristic beaches of a mediterranean coast transect (Valencia province, East Spain)
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Researchers sampled microplastics from seven tourist beaches along Spain's Valencia coast in both winter and summer and found contamination levels nearly five times higher during the summer tourism season. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, and polyethylene and halogenated polystyrene from food packaging were the dominant polymers identified. The study raises questions about whether current beach cleaning practices are sufficient to address microplastic pollution.
Plastic litter in seafloor habitats of the balearic islands and its implications for marine species
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This study documents plastic litter — including large plastic pieces and microplastics — found on the seafloor habitats around the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Large plastic debris threatens marine species through entanglement and ingestion, while microplastics are more pervasive and harder to remove. The findings support stricter marine litter regulations in the region.
Studying the effects of marine plastics on coastal ecosystems in the Balearic Sea
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This dissertation studied spatial distribution, composition, and ecological interactions of microplastics in marine coastal ecosystems of the Balearic Islands, integrating field sampling, laboratory analysis, and systematic reviews. Results confirmed the Balearic Islands as a plastic pollution hotspot, found microplastic abundances two orders of magnitude higher in sediments than surface waters, and identified copepods as important temporary microplastic reservoirs shaping particle distribution.
Microplastics spatiotemporal distribution and variability in marine habitats along the North-Western Mediterranean coastal waters.
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Researchers assessed microplastic spatiotemporal distribution across multiple Mediterranean marine habitat types including water surface, sediment, and biota, revealing significant variability by location and season. The multi-compartment approach showed that no single habitat type captures the full extent of microplastic contamination.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.