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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to ECOMAR: A data-driven framework for ecosystem-based Maritime Spatial Planning in Danish marine waters. Results and conclusions from a development and demonstration project
ClearSupplementary material to ECOMAR: A data-driven framework for ecosystembased Maritime Spatial Planning in Danish marine waters
This supplementary technical report for the ECOMAR project provides detailed data on human pressures, marine ecosystem components, and cumulative environmental effects in Danish marine waters. Microplastics are listed among the human pressures mapped in this maritime spatial planning framework.
A literature study of human activities and pressures as well as ecosystem component layers available for Marine Spatial Planning and mapping of cumulative impacts in Swedish marine waters
A Swedish literature review assessed what data layers are available for marine spatial planning and mapping cumulative human impacts in Swedish waters, covering activities like shipping, fishing, and pollution. The study is a policy and governance review, not primarily focused on microplastics.
Cumulative impact assessment for ecosystem-based marine spatial planning
This review examines how cumulative human impact assessments — which combine pressures from fishing, pollution, shipping, and other sources — can be integrated into marine spatial planning to better balance human uses against ecosystem health.
Exploration of occurrence and sources of microplastics (>10 μm) in Danish marine waters
Microplastics larger than 10 micrometers were quantified in Danish marine waters of the Kattegat and southern Skagerrak, an area receiving Baltic Sea inflow and urban runoff from Copenhagen and Malmö. The study establishes baseline concentrations and identifies urban and riverine inputs as key sources to these regional seas.
Trends and Evolution in the Concept of Marine Ecosystem Services: An Overview
This overview reviews the evolution of the marine ecosystem services concept, examining how human activities increasingly pressure ocean environments. Researchers found that pollution, including plastic and microplastic contamination, is among the growing threats to the marine ecosystem services that support food production, climate regulation, and coastal protection. The study emphasizes the need for effective management strategies to balance human use with ocean health.
Marine monitoring in Europe: is it adequate to address environmental threats and pressures?
A review of European coastal monitoring programs found significant gaps in detecting and tracking environmental threats, including microplastic pollution. The study calls for better integration of monitoring networks to provide the data needed for effective ocean management and pollution control.
Sources, distribution and impacts of microplastics in the marine environment: an overview of the results of JPI Oceans projects
This synthesis paper integrates findings from six European research projects (JPI Oceans) investigating microplastic sources, distribution, and impacts in the Atlantic Ocean and European seas. Key outputs include new methods for nanoplastic detection, eco-corona characterization, ecological risk assessment frameworks, and identification of plastic accumulation hotspots across European waters.
Identifying and addressing the anthropogenic drivers of global change in the North Sea: a systematic map protocol
Researchers designed a systematic review protocol to map 75 years of scientific literature on five key human pressures — including pollution, climate change, and overfishing — affecting the North Sea, aiming to identify research gaps and guide future integrated marine management.
Predicting the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics in the Northern Salish Sea - a novel approach to marine risk assessment using GIS
This study used GIS-based risk assessment to predict the ecotoxicological impacts of microplastics on the Northern Salish Sea ecosystem, identifying pollution hotspots near populated coastlines. The novel spatial approach helps prioritize which marine areas are most at risk from microplastic contamination and need protective action.
Modelling to inform the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems: A synthesis of five case studies
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper presents five modeling case studies for managing aquatic ecosystems under threats including invasive species, over-exploitation, and climate change; microplastics are briefly mentioned as one of many stressors but are not the paper's focus.
Plastic litter in life cycle assessment: Advances of the marine impacts in life cycle assessment international taskforce and application to case studies
Researchers reviewed advances in incorporating marine plastic litter impacts into life cycle assessment, focusing on recently developed indicators for biodiversity and ecosystem quality. The new indicators allow LCA practitioners to account for plastic pollution when comparing product systems and informing design choices.
Microplastics: Occurrence, effects and sources of releases to the environment in Denmark
This Danish environmental agency report reviews occurrence, sources, and release pathways for microplastics in Denmark, with a focus on which products and activities contribute most to contamination of surrounding waters. The report provides policy-relevant baseline information to guide national microplastic regulation.
Development and testing of a prototype indicator-based tool for identification of potential problem areas for marine litter in Europe's seas
Researchers developed and tested a multi-metric Marine Litter Assessment Tool for mapping problem areas in European seas using data on seafloor litter, beach litter, and floating micro-litter. Of the 19% of European sea area with sufficient data, 74% was classified as a problem area, confirming marine litter as a widespread regional crisis.
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.
Evaluation of Microplastic Pollution in Marine Environments Sources, Distribution, and Impact
This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic contamination across all marine compartments — surface waters, sediments, and biota — analyzing major sources, distribution patterns, and ecological and human health impacts. The authors emphasize the pervasive and often irreversible nature of marine microplastic pollution.
Marine plastic pollution: A systematic review of management strategies through a macroscope approach
Researchers applied a systems-level framework to review 176 studies on marine plastic pollution management, finding that waste collection infrastructure and freshwater pathways are critically understudied and that no existing strategy — from beach cleanup to biomaterials — is scalable enough to meaningfully reverse the plastic crisis.
Development of a framework and toolbox for measuring and evaluating ecosystem interactions of seaweed aquaculture
This Dutch-language study (mostly in Dutch) developed a framework and toolbox for measuring ecosystem integrity in seaweed cultivation areas off the Dutch coast, relevant to scaling up sustainable aquaculture. Healthy coastal ecosystems with minimal microplastic contamination are important for sustainable seaweed production.
Microplastic Pollution and Monitoring in Seawater and Harbor Environments: A Meta-Analysis and Review
This meta-analysis reviews microplastic pollution levels in seawater and harbors worldwide, finding that contamination is widespread and persistent. The research matters for human health because marine microplastics enter the food chain through fish and shellfish, representing a significant route of exposure for seafood consumers.
Impacts of plastic pollution in the oceans on marine species, biodiversity and ecosystems
This comprehensive report documented the extensive impacts of plastic pollution on marine species, biodiversity, and ecosystems worldwide, revealing a rapidly worsening situation that demands immediate international action to protect ocean health.
Current Progress on Marine Microplastics Pollution Research: A Review on Pollution Occurrence, Detection, and Environmental Effects
This review summarized current knowledge on marine microplastic pollution, covering detection methods, occurrence across ocean zones and organism types, and environmental effects, while identifying key research gaps around long-term ecological impacts and standardized monitoring protocols.
Assessment of biomarker-based ecotoxic effects in combating microplastic pollution - A review
This review examined the use of biomarker-based ecotoxicological approaches to assess the impacts of microplastic pollution across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial organisms. The authors argue that standardized biomarker frameworks are needed to quantify ecological harm from microplastics more effectively.
A participatory scenario method to explore the future of marine social‐ecological systems
This paper presents a method for creating participatory scenarios to explore possible futures for marine social-ecological systems, involving scientists, managers, and stakeholders. Building shared visions for ocean health is relevant to how communities develop responses to marine plastic pollution.
An Ecological Sustainability Assessment Approach for Strategic Decision Making in International Shipping
This paper develops an ecological sustainability assessment framework for international shipping, examining pollution, biodiversity impacts, and resource use. While not focused on microplastics specifically, shipping is a significant source of marine plastic pollution through cargo spills, lost fishing gear, and ship-generated waste. Incorporating plastic pollution into shipping sustainability assessments could help reduce this contribution.
What influences the distribution of microplastics in the marine environment? An interdisciplinary study reveals key factors driving microplastic in the North Sea
Researchers deployed an autonomous surface vehicle in Germany's North Sea Bight to simultaneously sample air, sea surface microlayer, and underlying water for microplastics and extracellular polymeric substances. Combining in-situ oceanographic measurements with MP mass quantification, they found that EPS from microorganisms influences MP aggregation and transport dynamics, helping explain distribution patterns of MPs in the marine environment.