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Macro- and Microlitter in Surface Waters of the Kara and Barents Seas
Summary
Scientists surveying the Arctic's Kara and Barents Seas found plastic trash and tiny plastic particles (microlitter) floating in waters once thought too remote to be affected by pollution—including fishing nets, which made up most of the debris by weight. This matters because it shows plastic pollution, including the kind of tiny particles that can enter the food chain (and eventually our seafood), is reaching even the most pristine, isolated parts of the ocean, meaning there's truly no escaping it.
Abstract The problem of marine litter accumulation is relevant even in remote regions with low anthropogenic pressure, such as the Arctic seas. This study presents the results of three surveys conducted in 2021 and 2023 on the distribution and accumulation of macro- and microlitter in surface waters of the Kara and Barents seas. In 2021, an area of 18.3 km2 was observed, with 695 macrolitter items recorded (average: 4.56 items/km2; pollution density range: 0–210.6 items/km2). In 2023, 108 items were found over 9.4 km2 (average: 8.4 items/km2; pollution density range: 0–24.7 items/km2). Microlitter (1–5 mm) was analyzed based on 45 samples in 2021 (1.679 particles; mean concentration: 0.124 ± 0.383 items/m3; range: 0–1.53 items/m3) and 31 samples in 2023 (184 particles; mean: 0.02 ± 0.02 items/m3; range: 0–0.166 items/m3). Fishing nets were the main contributor to the mass of macrolitter. The average weight of microplastic was 0.0135 g/km2, while macrolitter amounted to 13.4 g/km2, which is 992.6 times higher.