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Fishing-Related Plastic Pollution on Bocassette Spit (Northern Adriatic): Distribution Patterns and Stakeholder Perspectives
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This study analyzed the distribution and temporal evolution of fishing-related plastics including EPS fish boxes, fragments, and buoys along the Bocassette spit in the northern Adriatic Sea using UAV monitoring and structured fishermen interviews. EPS boxes (54.8%) and fragments (39.6%) dominated the collected debris, with fishermen showing strong awareness of plastic degradation and litter concerns, while mapped EPS boxes could generate approximately 10¹³ micro-particles, revealing the vast microplastic generation potential of fishing-related debris in aquaculture-intensive areas.
Plastic pollution in marine environments is a globally recognized concern that poses ecological and economic threats. While 80% of plastic originates from land, 20% comes from sea-based sources like shipping and fishing. Comprehensive assessments of fishing-related plastics are limited but crucial for mitigation. This study analyzed the distribution and temporal evolution of three fishing-related items (EPS fish boxes, fragments, and buoys) along the Bocassette spit in the northern Adriatic Sea, a region with high fishing and aquaculture activity. UAV monitoring (November 2019, June/October 2020) and structured interviews with Po Delta fishermen were conducted. The collected debris was mainly EPS, with boxes (54.8%) and fragments (39.6%). Fishermen showed strong awareness of degradation, identifying plastic as the primary litter type and reporting gear loss. Litter concentrated in active dunes and the southern sector indicates human and riverine influence. Persistent items (61%) at higher elevations suggest longer residence times. Mapped EPS boxes could generate billions of micro-particles (e.g., ~1013). The results reveal a complex interaction between natural processes and human activities in litter distribution. This highlights the need for integrated management strategies, like improved waste management, targeted cleanup, and community involvement, to reduce long-term impacts on vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
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Marine litter in the Croatian part of the middle Adriatic Sea: Simultaneous assessment of floating and seabed macro and micro litter abundance and composition.
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Floating and seabed macro- and micro-litter in the Croatian middle Adriatic Sea were simultaneously surveyed, finding average floating micro-litter concentrations of 127,000 particles per square kilometer and seabed micro-litter of 36 particles per 100 g dry weight. The study confirms that plastic pollution is widespread at all depths in this semi-enclosed Mediterranean sea.
Field observations and modeling investigation of interaction between vegetation and marine debris along Barbamarco sandy spit in the northern Adriatic (Italy)
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Researchers investigated how coastal vegetation interacts with floating marine litter along the Po River Delta in Italy, combining UAV surveys and field sampling with a high-resolution hydro-morphodynamic numerical model. They found that vegetation and geomorphic features trap plastic debris and influence accumulation patterns, enabling scenario-based projections of microplastic dispersion in coastal environments.
Marine Macro-Plastics Litter Features and Their Relation to the Geographical Settings of the Selected Adriatic Islands, Croatia (2018–2023)
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This six-year study of marine litter on Adriatic islands found that coastal orientation and bay geometry significantly influence debris accumulation, with NW-SE and W-E oriented coasts being particularly susceptible. Smaller islands showed stronger correlations between bay density and plastic accumulation, highlighting the need for international cooperation to address marine litter in remote coastal ecosystems.
Assessment of seafloor marine litter along the Montenegrin coast through Fishing for Litter initiatives
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A six-year fishing-for-litter survey of the Montenegrin seafloor in the southern Adriatic found an average marine litter density of 261 items per square kilometer, with the highest concentrations near the shoreline in Boka Kotorska Bay at depths of 35–40 meters. Plastic was the dominant litter category, with most debris attributed to coastal urbanization and river inflows rather than fishing activities.
First evaluation of floating microplastics in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea
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Floating microplastics were surveyed for the first time in the northwestern Adriatic Sea, finding that the Venice Lagoon and Po River are likely important sources. The findings help map microplastic inputs into this semi-enclosed sea and can inform targeted mitigation efforts.
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