Joint measures to preserve natural ecosystems from marine litter in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

This document presents the results of the beach litter surveys performed within the framework of the Interreg Med ACT4LITTER project with the aim to carry out a snapshot assessment of the marine litter deposited on the beaches of Mediterranean coastal and marine protected areas. [...] Marine Litter within the EU MSFD Properties and quantities of marine litter do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment (Descriptor 10) Criteria D10C1 - Primary: The composition, amount and spatial distribution of litter on the coastline, in the surface layer of the water column, and on the seabed, are at levels that do not cause harm to the coastal and marine environment. [...] The Marine Litter Operational Objectives and respective Indicators within the framework of the Barcelona Convention Ecosystem Approach and the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) Marine Litter and the Barcelona Convention Ecosystem Approach Ecological Objective 10 (EO10): Marine and coastal litter do not adversely affect the coastal and marine environment. [...] It should be noted that the percentage of plastic items differed in each site; the lowest amount of plastic items was found in Fourat (France) with plastics accounting for some 40% of all litter collected and the highest amount of plastic items was found in Embarcadero de los Escullos (Spain) with plastics accounting for some 94% of all litter collected. [...] In conclusion, the present study provides fit-for-purpose data and baseline information on the amounts, composition and sources of marine litter in coastal and marine protected areas of the Mediterranean.