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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Mapping marine debris hotspots on Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde
ClearLost and found: Patterns of marine litter accumulation on the remote Island of Santa Luzia, Cabo Verde.
A survey of the uninhabited island of Santa Luzia in Cabo Verde found marine litter accumulating on beaches despite its status as a protected nature reserve and nesting site for loggerhead turtles. The presence of plastic and other debris even on remote, protected shores underscores that no coastal ecosystem is shielded from global marine litter.
Marine litter arrived: Distribution and potential sources on an unpopulated atoll in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea
Even on an uninhabited atoll in the Caribbean, plastic litter dominated marine debris, with most items likely arriving from sea-based sources such as fishing vessels. This finding shows that remote, undeveloped locations are not immune to plastic pollution carried by ocean currents.
Plastic pollution in islands of the Atlantic Ocean
A survey of plastic pollution on beaches of Atlantic Ocean islands from the Azores to Tristan da Cunha found microplastics and macroplastics at all locations, with composition suggesting origin from both local and long-distance ocean transport. The findings confirm that even remote Atlantic islands serve as sinks for globally circulating plastic debris.
UAV Approach for Detecting Plastic Marine Debris on the Beach: A Case Study in the Po River Delta (Italy)
UAV imaging was used to detect and map anthropogenic marine debris on beaches in the Po River Delta, Italy, testing different image processing strategies and demonstrating that centimeter-scale spatial resolution UAV surveys can efficiently locate macroplastics before they degrade into harder-to-remove microplastics.
Spatio-temporal monitoring of coastal floating marine debris in the Balearic Islands from sea-cleaning boats
Researchers analyzed a decade of sea-cleaning boat records from the Balearic Islands and found that plastics made up more than half of all floating coastal debris removed, with concentrations peaking in August and clustering in the northwest and southeast coastal zones.
Plastic occurrence in Macaronesia: Three years of monitoring on forty-six beaches across nineteen islands in an Atlantic region
Researchers conducted a three-year seasonal monitoring campaign across 46 beaches on 19 Macaronesian islands, collecting over 271,000 plastic items and documenting average microplastic concentrations of 1,760 items/m2, with the Canary Islands showing the highest contamination, polyethylene and polypropylene fragments dominating, and five new plastic accumulation hotspots identified.
Marine Litter on the Coast of the Algarve: Main Sources and Distribution Using a Modeling Approach
Scientists used a regional ocean circulation model to estimate sources and distribution of marine litter along the Algarve coast of Portugal, finding that local sources combined with offshore currents drive accumulation on beaches. The modeling approach can help target cleanup and prevention efforts in coastal tourism zones.
Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator
Microplastic abundance and distribution were documented across surface waters and sediments of an oceanic island, with findings indicating both local land-based pollution and ocean gyre-driven deposition of particles from distant sources.
Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study
Researchers tracked plastic bottle litter on 60 remote beaches across the Galapagos Islands from 2018 to 2022 to determine where marine debris originates. The study found that 76% of beaches were badly polluted, with bottles traced to sources in Asia, South America, and Central America, demonstrating how ocean currents carry plastic waste thousands of miles to even the most isolated island ecosystems.
Abundance and distribution of solid waste and microplastics in southeastern Brazilian islands: a comprehensive analysis
Solid waste and microplastic abundance and distribution were characterized on beaches of three islands in southeastern Brazil - Trindade, Grande, and Paqueta - varying in proximity to the continent and occupation patterns. The study identified factors driving debris origin and distribution, including island remoteness, tourism, and proximity to shipping routes.
Numerical Modelling of Plastic Debris Transport and Accumulation throughout Portuguese Coast
Researchers applied numerical modelling to simulate the transport and accumulation of plastic debris along the Portuguese coast, assessing how ocean currents drive microplastic dispersal and deposition patterns in this Atlantic coastal region. The study contributes spatial predictions of plastic accumulation hotspots to inform monitoring and management strategies.
Spatial and temporal variation of macro-, meso- and microplastic abundance on a remote coral island of the Maldives, Indian Ocean
Researchers conducted daily sampling of plastic debris on a remote Maldives island over seven consecutive days and found high spatial and temporal variability in plastic abundance despite the island's remoteness, warning that single-snapshot surveys can produce biased estimates and that future monitoring programs must account for natural fluctuations in deposition.
Microplastics in the Canary Islands: A Case Study on Transport and Tourist Pressure
Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the Canary Islands, a region heavily influenced by Atlantic Ocean currents, and found that remote sources contributed significantly to local beach and water accumulation. The study also evaluated emerging contaminants on an EU regulatory watch list, finding limited but concerning data on ecological risks.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Debris Survey in Coastal Areas: Long-Term Monitoring Programme to Study Spatial and Temporal Accumulation of the Dynamics of Beached Marine Litter
Researchers used UAVs to acquire georeferenced RGB images over a ten-month monitoring programme at a protected marine area near Pisa, Italy, to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of beached marine debris. Post-processing via visual interpretation allowed localization and identification of anthropogenic debris accumulation patterns, demonstrating UAV-based surveying as an effective low-impact approach for long-term coastal litter monitoring.
Low densities of macroplastic debris in the Pitcairn Islands Marine Reserve
Despite beaches on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn group having some of the highest standing stocks of stranded plastic ever recorded, floating plastic densities in surrounding waters were found to be very low. This indicates that remote islands can act as accumulation traps for ocean plastic even when local surface water concentrations are not elevated.
Designing Unmanned Aerial Survey Monitoring Program to Assess Floating Litter Contamination
Researchers tested drone-based aerial surveys with high-resolution cameras as a cost-effective method for monitoring floating litter contamination in coastal waters, comparing manual counting, automated detection, and modeling approaches to optimize survey design.
Microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in surface waters and beaches of the Canary Islands: A review
This review assesses a decade of research on microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in the waters and beaches of the Canary Islands. The study highlights how the archipelago's position in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre makes it particularly vulnerable to oceanic transport of plastic debris from remote sources.
Occurrence and identification of microplastics along a beach in the Biosphere Reserve of Lanzarote
Researchers documented microplastic accumulation on a remote beach in the Chinijo Archipelago of the Canary Islands, finding an average density of 36.3 grams per square meter with particles preferentially depositing in rock-sheltered areas, composed largely of polypropylene and polyethylene fragments.
Searching for hotspots of neustonic microplastics in the Canary Islands
Researchers surveying surface waters around the Canary Islands found that microplastic concentrations varied enormously — from near-negligible levels to very high concentrations where sea-surface slicks (windrow accumulations) formed, particularly south of Gran Canaria. The study demonstrates that oceanographic features like wind-driven convergence zones create localised hotspots of floating microplastic pollution, which has implications for marine wildlife exposure in these areas.
Exploring the origin and fate of surface and sub-surface marine microplastics in the Canary Islands region
Researchers investigated the origin, transport, and fate of microplastics at various ocean depths around the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The study found high concentrations of microplastics at known hotspot beaches and provided new insights into how large-scale and mesoscale ocean dynamics influence the distribution of plastic particles in both surface and sub-surface waters.
Distribution, characteristics and short-term variability of microplastics in beach sediment of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil
Researchers conducted daily beach sediment sampling on Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil, documenting large spatial and temporal variability in microplastic concentrations (0.6-1,059 particles/m) and finding that remote island beaches are not protected from microplastic contamination.
A Proposed Technology Solution for Preventing Marine Littering Based on Uavs and Iot Cloud-based Data Analytics
This paper proposes a technological solution using unmanned aerial vehicles and automated collection systems to prevent marine littering at coastal hotspots. The approach aims to intercept plastic waste before it enters the ocean and breaks down into microplastics.
Monitoring marine litter on Funchal beaches (Madeira Island): Insights for litter management
Researchers monitored beach litter on Madeira Island over two years and found cigarette butts and plastic items made up over 60% of debris, most of it originating on land, and used these findings to recommend targeted local interventions like awareness campaigns and restrictions on single-use plastics.
Now, you see me: High concentrations of floating plastic debris in the coastal waters of the Balearic Islands (Spain)
High concentrations of floating plastic debris were documented in summer surface water samples from around the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean, with microplastics dominating by number and larger fragments by mass. The results highlight the Balearic Islands as a hotspot for surface plastic accumulation, likely influenced by ocean currents and proximity to major population centers.