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Fulmar Litter EcoQO monitoring along Durch and North Sea coasts : in relation to EU Directive 2000/59/EC on Port Reception Facilities: results to 2009
Summary
This report presents long-term monitoring data on plastic pollution in the North Sea using Northern Fulmar stomach contents as a biological indicator, tracking compliance with the EU Port Reception Facilities Directive. The Dutch monitoring approach has been adopted by OSPAR as an Ecological Quality Objective, and the report provides a North Sea-wide update through 2009.
Wastes from ships are an important source of litter in the marine environment in the Southern North Sea and cause serious economic and ecological damage. Inadequacies in the ship to shore waste delivery procedures are considered a major factor in illegal discharges. The European Union addressed the problem with the Directive on Port Reception Facilities. Monitoring the effect of this EU Directive is required. A long term marine litter monitoring program based on plastic abundance in stomachs of a seabird, the Northern Fulmar, exists in the Netherlands. The Dutch monitoring approach using fulmars was further developed for international implementation by OSPAR as one of its 'Ecological Quality Objectives' (EcoQO's) for the North Sea. This report, in addition to Dutch monitoring data, also provides a North Sea wide EcoQO update to 2009.