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Opportunistically collected data from aerial surveys reveal spatio-temporal distribution patterns of marine debris in German waters
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Researchers analyzed 15 years of aerial survey data from German waters and found that floating marine debris was more common in the North Sea than the Baltic Sea, with plastic items predominating. The study demonstrates the value of opportunistically collected aerial observation data for tracking long-term trends in marine litter distribution.
Marine debris is known for its ubiquitousness and harmful effects on marine life. This study is the first analysis to provide information on the distribution of floating marine debris in German waters using aerial survey data collected between 2002 and 2016. During regular harbour porpoise monitoring flights, 191,167 km were covered and 26,512 floating debris items recorded (average encounter rate 0.1387 items/km). Debris was encountered more often in the North Sea than in the Baltic Sea (0.16 items/km; 0.08 items/km). The average encounter rate was higher in offshore waters than in coastal areas. Overlaps of marine debris distribution with 'Special Areas of Conservation' are a particular reason for concern. Moreover, the spring months (March-May) were identified to be the time of the year with the highest average encounter rates for marine debris. Fishing-related debris was shown to contribute up to 25% of the total number of all observed items. This study shows that opportunistically collected data on marine debris from aerial surveys are valuable for identifying distribution patterns of floating debris without additional survey effort and costs. These data can be used as baseline information to inform management schemes such as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
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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.