D10

10.1 Characteristics of litter in the marine and coastal environment

10.1.1 Trends in litter on shore

10.1.2 Trends in litter in water column

10.1.3 Trends in micro-plastics

10.2 Impacts of marine litter on marine life

10.2.1 Trends in amount of litter ingested

MIC-EL-MS-IO: For descriptors 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 it is attempted to approach GES quantitatively using environmental thresholds/limits to describe the desired state of GES. For descriptors 1, 2, 4,7 and 10 a qualitative description of what GES will be like is provided.

• Hellenic Republic's MS marine waters part of the Ionian Sea and the Central Mediterranean Sea subregion

• BirdsInshoreBenthic
• BirdsInshoreHerbiv
• BirdsInshorePelagic
• BirdsInshoreSurface
• BirdsIntertidalBenthic
• BirdsOffshorePelagic
• BirdsOffshoreSurface
• FishPelagic
• LitRock
• LitSed
• Litter [macro]
• MammalsSeals
• MammalsToothedWhales
• MarineCoast
• MarineOceanic
• MarineShelf
• RedSalinity
• ReptilesTurtles
• ShallCoarseSed
• ShallMud
• ShallMxdSed
• ShallRock
• ShallSand
• ShelfCoarseSed
• ShelfMud
• ShelfMxdSed
• ShelfRock
• ShelfSand
• VarSalinity

D10

10.1

10.1.1

10.1.2

10.1.3

10.2

10.2.1

To achieve Good Environmental Status according to descriptor 10 it is desirable to reduce the quantities of marine litter in coastal and marine environment to such an extent that they do not harm the environment and the organisms living in or depending on it. For descriptor 10, GES is approached qualitatively as it is impossible to establish threshold values for the quantities or properties of marine litter. According to initial assessment marine litter constitutes a crucial issue for the subregion, although it is impossible to determine the level of disturbance. The incoherence of available data from surveys and cleanup campaigns as well as the inadequacy of information – e.g. there are gaps about the state of the deep sea - cannot provide a thorough insight into the existing status of litter in the marine and coastal environment. The environmental status of the Ionian Sea to a proportion of 5 to 10 % is regarded as not good at coastal level, as significant amounts of litter reach the coastal and marine environment from various land based and sea based sources (80% of the marine litter derives from land based sources). It is obvious that the assessment of GES is produced based on quality parameters taking into consideration the aesthetics degradation caused to the marine environment due to the presence of litter along with environmental, social and financial adverse impacts. In the long run it is desirable to have totally litter - free coasts and seas. However, by 2020 it is aimed to have achieved a dramatic reduction in the amounts of litter.