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Spatial distribution of macro- and micro-litter items along rocky and sandy beaches of a Marine Protected Area in the western Mediterranean Sea
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Macro- and micro-litter were mapped across rocky and sandy beaches within a marine protected area in the Balearic Islands, finding a mean macrolitter concentration of about 1.9 items per square meter and widespread microplastic presence in sandy sediments. Plastic fragments and films were the dominant litter categories, highlighting recreational pressure even in protected coastal areas.
In this study, the spatial distribution and physical characteristics of beach macro- and micro-litter within the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park (Cabrera MPA), in the Balearic Islands have been analysed. For macro-litter items, a mean concentration of 1.9 ± 2.4 items/m2 weighing a total of 13 kg was quantified. In terms of beach composition, cobble beaches with deposited seagrass had almost twice as much marine litter as other beaches. For beach micro-litter items, white and transparent microplastics within the size class of 1-2 mm were the most abundant on all the beaches, and the most common polymer types were polyethylene (64%) and polypropylene (17.2%). Overall, for both macro- and micro-litter items, plastic was the most dominant material (90%) identified on all beaches surveyed within Cabrera MPA, indicating areas of low anthropogenic pressures are increasingly becoming sinks for marine litter.
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Marine microlitter in the Mediterranean coast of Málaga, Spain; findings from urban and non-urban beaches including protected area sites
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Marine microlitter was surveyed on eleven beaches along the Mediterranean coast of Málaga, Spain, including urban, non-urban, and protected area beaches. Microplastics were found at all sites, with higher concentrations on urban beaches. The study confirms that even coastal protected areas in the Mediterranean are not free from plastic pollution and highlights the need for better waste management and public education in coastal tourism areas.
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.
Sea surface surveys for microplastic and floating marine macro litter items in coastal waters of Cabrera Archipelago Maritime Terrestrial National Park
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Net surveys around the Cabrera Archipelago National Park in the Balearic Islands found enormous quantities of microplastics — averaging over 380,000 particles per square kilometer — with polyethylene and polypropylene making up 98% of the material. Even this protected marine area showed high contamination, and smaller survey vessels were far better at capturing the smallest size fractions than larger research ships used in comparable studies. The findings establish a pollution baseline for one of the Mediterranean's few marine protected areas and demonstrate that legal protection from human activity does not shield coastal waters from microplastic drift.
First full investigation of levels of microplastics on sandy beaches in Malta
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This study conducted the first comprehensive survey of microplastic levels on sandy beaches in Malta, finding microplastics at all five sampled beaches including in protected coastal areas. The results establish baseline contamination levels for the central Mediterranean and document seasonal and spatial variability.
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.
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