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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Monitoring of seafloor litter on the Dutch Continental Shelf : International Bottom Trawl Survey 2023, Dutch Beam Trawl Survey 2022
ClearMonitoring of seafloor litter on the Dutch continental shelf : International Bottom Trawl Survey 2025, Dutch Beam Trawl Survey 2024
Dutch researchers monitoring seafloor litter on the continental shelf as part of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive reported on the abundance, composition, and distribution of macro litter collected during bottom trawl surveys in 2024–2025.
Monitoring of seafloor litter on the Dutch continental shelf : International Bottom Trawl Survey 2022, Dutch Beam Trawl Survey 2021
This monitoring report presents data on seafloor plastic litter collected on the Dutch continental shelf during international bottom trawl surveys. Tracking marine litter on the seafloor is a required component of EU efforts to assess and improve ocean environmental quality under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Monitoring of seafloor litter on the Dutch continental shelf : International Bottom Trawl Survey 2021, Dutch Beam Trawl Survey 2020
This report presented data from 2020-2021 seafloor litter surveys on the Dutch continental shelf using bottom trawl surveys, monitoring marine debris as required by EU environmental directives. Systematic seafloor monitoring provides essential data on how plastic waste accumulates on the ocean bottom.
Assessment of marine debris on the Belgian Continental Shelf
Researchers assessed marine debris across beach, sea surface, and seafloor compartments of Belgian coastal waters over two consecutive years, finding that plastic items dominated macrodebris at over 95% of all debris by count. Microplastic concentrations were also quantified in all three compartments, revealing consistent contamination across the Belgian Continental Shelf.
Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins
Researchers mapped marine litter distribution and density across European seas — from shallow shelves to deep basins — finding litter present at all depths and in all regions surveyed, with deep-sea areas accumulating significant loads.
The quest for seafloor macrolitter: a critical review of background knowledge, current methods and future prospects
This critical review examined knowledge, current practices, and challenges in studying macrolitter on the seafloor, the least-investigated sink for marine debris. The seafloor covers 70% of Earth's surface and receives substantial plastic input, yet most of it lies in the deep sea where monitoring is technically difficult and expensive.
Marine Litter, Plastic, and Microplastics on the Seafloor
This review examines marine litter, plastic debris, and microplastics accumulating on the seafloor from intertidal zones to hadal depths, emphasizing that the seafloor is a major long-term sink for plastics denser than seawater. It discusses monitoring challenges across different seabed types and highlights abandoned fishing gear as a key seafloor litter component that entangles marine fauna.
The Seafloor Marine Debris on the North and the Central Part Ofthe Moroccan Atlantic Waters from Tangier (35° n) to Sidi Ifni (29° n): Composition, Abundance, Spatial Distribution, Sources and Movement
Researchers used trawl surveys to map marine debris on the seafloor along 1,300 km of Morocco's Atlantic coast, documenting the composition, abundance, and distribution of debris from bottom trawling surveys. Plastic waste dominated the debris, with findings providing baseline data on seafloor plastic pollution in a heavily fished and under-studied region.
Revisiting the strategy for marine litter monitoring within the european marine strategy framework directive (MSFD)
This paper critically reviews existing marine litter monitoring programs across Europe under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Researchers identified significant gaps and inconsistencies in current approaches for tracking beach litter, floating debris, seafloor waste, and microplastics. The study recommends updating monitoring strategies with improved protocols, better sampling designs, and newly validated technologies to more accurately assess the scale of marine plastic pollution.
Spatial and temporal trends of marine litter in the Spanish Mediterranean seafloor
Researchers analyzed 11 years of MEDITS trawl survey data to map marine litter on the Spanish Mediterranean seafloor, finding plastics were the most abundant litter by weight, that densities varied significantly by region, and that overall litter levels remained stable or slightly decreased over the study period.
What, where, and when: Spatial-temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor of the western and central Mediterranean sea
Using fishery-independent monitoring data from the western Mediterranean, this study characterized the spatial and temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor, identifying accumulation hotspots to guide marine litter management efforts.
A spatial and temporal assessment of microplastics in seafloor sediments: A case study for the UK
This study assessed microplastic occurrence and abundance in UK seafloor sediments across spatial and temporal scales, supporting the development of common monitoring indicators for regional marine frameworks like OSPAR.
Impacts of Bottom Trawling and Litter on the Seabed in Norwegian Waters
This study assessed the extent of bottom trawling and seafloor litter in Norwegian waters, finding that trawling affects large areas and that plastic litter is widespread on the seabed. Seafloor debris in the Arctic underscores the global reach of plastic pollution, even in heavily regulated, remote fishing areas.
Seabed litter distribution in the high seas of the Flemish Pass area (NW Atlantic)
Seabed litter surveys of the Flemish Pass in the northwest Atlantic Ocean found debris in 8.3% of bottom trawl hauls at depths from 104 to 1478 meters. The study provides baseline data on deep-sea litter in an international fisheries management area, with plastic being the most commonly encountered material.
Global mapping for the occurrence of all-sized microplastics in seafloor sediments
Researchers compiled global seafloor microplastic data from 155 marine sediment samples including detailed sampling metadata and abundance measurements for 20 microplastic categories, providing foundational data for understanding the distribution and uncertainty of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.
How to Deal With Seafloor Marine Litter: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives
This review examined the state of the art for detecting and removing marine litter from the seafloor, finding that while surface and beach litter has received substantial attention, seafloor litter remains understudied and that emerging technologies including underwater robotics offer promising future cleanup pathways.
Testing a monitoring strategy for floating microlitter with manta-trawl sampling in Danish coastal waters
This Danish monitoring project developed and tested a coastal sampling strategy for floating microplastics using manta-trawls at beach litter monitoring sites. The study found relatively low microplastic concentrations in Danish marine surface waters, providing baseline data and an evaluated monitoring protocol for ongoing national microplastic surveillance.
Microplastics assessment in the Scheldt Estuary within the PLASTFLOW Project, 2024–2025
Researchers collected and analyzed microplastic samples from water and sediment in the Scheldt Estuary during 2024-2025 as part of the PLASTFLOW project, providing observational data on microplastic distribution in this major European estuarine system.
Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in marine sediments along the Belgian coast
Researchers surveyed marine sediments along the Belgian coast and found microplastics distributed across all sampled sites, documenting their occurrence and characteristics in this heavily trafficked North Sea coastal environment.
The role of oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings on the deposition of microplastics in marine sediment: Icelandic waters
Researchers analyzed microplastics from marine sediment cores collected at eight sites on the Iceland continental shelf, examining how oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings influence the deposition and distribution of microplastic debris on the seafloor.
A monitoring and data analysis method for microplastics in marine sediments
Researchers developed and validated a standardized monitoring and data analysis method for microplastics in marine sediments, identifying 13 polymer types across four Dutch coastal sites and finding that particle size distributions follow a power law, providing a replicable framework for MSFD and OSPAR regulatory monitoring programs.
Microplastics Baseline Surveys at the Water Surface and in Sediments of the North-East Atlantic
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at the sea surface and in sediments across the southern North Sea and northwestern Europe, finding highly variable but widespread contamination. Sediments contained far higher concentrations than surface waters, confirming that the seafloor acts as a major sink for microplastic pollution.
Baseline study of the distribution of marine debris on soft-bottom habitats associated with trawling grounds in the northern Mediterranean
Researchers surveyed marine debris on soft seafloor habitats associated with trawling grounds across four areas of the northern Mediterranean, finding geographic variation in litter density and composition. The study also examined how organisms colonize plastic items on the seafloor, contributing to understanding of plastic as an artificial substrate in benthic ecosystems.
Status and future recommendations for recording and monitoring litter on the Arctic seafloor
This paper reviews the status of marine litter monitoring on the Arctic seafloor and calls for standardized guidelines across regions. Arctic litter is influenced by currents from the Atlantic and Pacific, making international coordination essential. The authors recommend harmonized monitoring protocols to detect spatial and temporal trends in seafloor debris.