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Microplastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea with an emphasis on Montenegro: Distribution, sources, methods, biota, policy, and implications
Summary
This review pulls together research on microplastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea, finding that the coastline of Montenegro—especially enclosed spots like Boka Kotorska Bay—has notably high levels of plastic particles in its sediment and mussels, mostly from common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene (used in bags, packaging, and bottles). This matters because mussels and seafood from these waters end up on our plates, and the researchers point out that inconsistent testing methods across studies make it hard to track how bad the problem really is or whether it's getting worse—something better monitoring could help fix.
The Adriatic Sea is recognized as a preferential accumulation zone for plastic debris within the Mediterranean. Microplastics have been detected in surface waters, sediments, and biota, with pronounced spatial and temporal variability linked to hydrodynamics, riverine inputs, and seasonality. This review synthesizes current evidence on microplastic distribution, composition, sources, and drivers across the Adriatic Sea, with particular emphasis on Montenegro, where sediment and mussel studies reveal widespread contamination dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene. Montenegrin coastal sediments contain on average 300–600 microplastic particles kg-1 dry sediment, with highest concentrations in enclosed areas such as Boka Kotorska Bay. While the Marine Strategy Framework Directive provides the policy scaffold for monitoring and management, methodological heterogeneity across studies and critical data gaps, particularly the scarcity of seasonal sea-surface microplastic data along the Eastern Adriatic, currently limit regional comparability and long-term trend assessment. Priority needs for Montenegro and the wider Adriatic include harmonized surface-water monitoring, integration of hydrodynamic context, and stakeholder-relevant assessments linking ecological indicators to aquaculture, tourism, and seafood safety.