Through BLUEISLANDS project a special attention is paid to both the microplastics (<5mm) and macroplastics (>5mm, including mesoplastics: 0.5cm – 2.5cm), in highly touristic coastal areas. According to the results of the project, the marine litter items collected on the beach of Sunrise is dominated by the mesoplastics (34.31%), followed by the cigarette butts (19.88%). Microplastics account for 8.05% of the total marine litter items collected. Similar on Faros beach, the marine litter items collected is dominated by the mesoplastics (53.16%) followed by the cigarette butts (17.17%). The microplastics account for 10.48% of the total marine litter items collected. Finally, on the remote beach of Timi, the marine litter items collected is dominated by the mesoplastics (55.05%) followed by the microplastics with 15.73% of the total marine litter items collected. These items can be attributed to the shoreline source, including poor waste management practices, tourism and recreational activities, presenting a clear seasonal pattern. Another study conducted in Cyprus concerning microplastic pollution (Duncan, 2018), took place in 17 nesting sites for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Microplastics (< 5 mm) were found at all locations and depths, with particularly high abundance in superficial sand. The top 2 cm of sand presented grand mean ± SD particle counts of 45,497 ± 11,456 particles m−3 (range 637–131,939 particles m−3). The most polluted beaches were among the worst thus far recorded, presenting levels approaching those previously recorded in Guangdong, South China. Microplastics decreased with increasing sand depth but were present down to turtle nest depths of 60 cm (mean 5,325 ± 3,663 particles m−3. Composition varied among beaches but hard fragments (46.5 ± 3.5%) and pre-production nurdles (47.8 ± 4.5%) comprised most categorised pieces. Particle drifter analysis hind cast for 365 days indicated that most plastic likely originated from the eastern Mediterranean basin. Worsening microplastic abundance could result in anthropogenically altered life history parameters such as hatching success and sex ratios in marine turtles.

Through BLUEISLANDS project a special attention is paid to both the microplastics (<5mm) and macroplastics (>5mm, including mesoplastics: 0.5cm – 2.5cm), in highly touristic coastal areas. According to the results of the project, the marine litter items collected on the beach of Sunrise is dominated by the mesoplastics (34.31%), followed by the cigarette butts (19.88%). Microplastics account for 8.05% of the total marine litter items collected. Similar on Faros beach, the marine litter items collected is dominated by the mesoplastics (53.16%) followed by the cigarette butts (17.17%). The microplastics account for 10.48% of the total marine litter items collected. Finally, on the remote beach of Timi, the marine litter items collected is dominated by the mesoplastics (55.05%) followed by the microplastics with 15.73% of the total marine litter items collected. These items can be attributed to the shoreline source, including poor waste management practices, tourism and recreational activities, presenting a clear seasonal pattern. Another study conducted in Cyprus concerning microplastic pollution (Duncan, 2018), took place in 17 nesting sites for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Microplastics (< 5 mm) were found at all locations and depths, with particularly high abundance in superficial sand. The top 2 cm of sand presented grand mean ± SD particle counts of 45,497 ± 11,456 particles m−3 (range 637–131,939 particles m−3). The most polluted beaches were among the worst thus far recorded, presenting levels approaching those previously recorded in Guangdong, South China. Microplastics decreased with increasing sand depth but were present down to turtle nest depths of 60 cm (mean 5,325 ± 3,663 particles m−3. Composition varied among beaches but hard fragments (46.5 ± 3.5%) and pre-production nurdles (47.8 ± 4.5%) comprised most categorised pieces. Particle drifter analysis hind cast for 365 days indicated that most plastic likely originated from the eastern Mediterranean basin. Worsening microplastic abundance could result in anthropogenically altered life history parameters such as hatching success and sex ratios in marine turtles.