Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The non-identifiable plastic fragments between 0 and 2.5 cm, and plastic cords with a diameter of less than 1 cm and plastic caps and lids and cotton buds, show a growing trend. Stable trend items were: Buying bags and plastic bottles and bottles made of plastic. Untended articles whose series do not show a clear trend were colliding, non-identifiable plastic parts between 2,5 and 50 cm, other objects made of plastics, ropes and plastic cords (larger diameter of 1 cm), other wooden parts smaller than 50 cm (e.g. tables), straws, cutlery and plates of plastic and beverage cans.

Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The non-identifiable plastic fragments between 0 and 2.5 cm, and plastic cords with a diameter of less than 1 cm and plastic caps and lids and cotton buds, show a growing trend. Stable trend items were: Buying bags and plastic bottles and bottles made of plastic. Untended articles whose series do not show a clear trend were colliding, non-identifiable plastic parts between 2,5 and 50 cm, other objects made of plastics, ropes and plastic cords (larger diameter of 1 cm), other wooden parts smaller than 50 cm (e.g. tables), straws, cutlery and plates of plastic and beverage cans.

Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The non-identifiable plastic fragments between 0 and 2.5 cm, and plastic cords with a diameter of less than 1 cm and plastic caps and lids and cotton buds, show a growing trend. Stable trend items were: Buying bags and plastic bottles and bottles made of plastic. Untended articles whose series do not show a clear trend were colliding, non-identifiable plastic parts between 2,5 and 50 cm, other objects made of plastics, ropes and plastic cords (larger diameter of 1 cm), other wooden parts smaller than 50 cm (e.g. tables), straws, cutlery and plates of plastic and beverage cans.

It was established that these residues might be causing a blockage in their digestive system. The data obtained do not allow an assessment to be made of whether or not the State Ambiental fulfils this criterion. There is a high frequency in the presence of marine litter in the digestive contents of young loggerhead turtles located in the western Mediterranean. In any event, the quantities ingested by this species are low and do not seem to pose a significant threat to the survival of the populations in the region. This species can be a good indicator of pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, as proposed by the INDIILIT project through the standardised protocol for the assessment of marine litter in the loggerhead turtle, and values proposed by Matiddi et al. (2017).

Sampling during the IBERANULLUS 2014 campaign. Analysis of the stomach contents of Mullus barbatus (36 individuals) for the identification of microplastics under a binocular microscope. 13.9 % of the specimens of Mullus barbatus sampled in the Malaga area show an intake of microplastics. In view of the examples of the levantno-Balear, which is also the subject of the study set out here, an average value of 1,9 ± 1,29 microplastics/individual is obtained for Mullus barbatus in the Mediterranean area. All plastics ingested by the analysed fish are smaller than 5 mm. Conclusions cannot be drawn as to the spatial and temporal trends and the scope of the BEA.

MEDIAS International Acoustic Survey for 2015. Measured parameters: The abundance of man-made particulate events (number of anthropogenic/individual particles), colour, type polymers that make up anthropogenic particles

MEDITS (MEDITS) and Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey (MEDITS) survey in 2015. Analysis of the stomach contents of Trachurus mediterraneus (87 individuals), Sardina pilchardus (20 individuals), Engraulis encrasicolus (39 individuals) and Boops boops (48 individuals) for the identification of anthropogenic particles under a stereomicroscope. Having regard to the demarcation of the Estrecho y Alborán and La levantino-bal-Saplico taken as a whole, 28 % of the samples that have been sampled have ingested anthropogenic particulate matter, with rates of higher intake rates on the Spanish mainland (36 %) than in the Balearic Islands (12 %). 43 % of the Trachours mediterraneus have shown intake of anthropogenic particles with mean values of 1,13 ± 1,99 anthropogenic/individual particles, while Engraulis encrasicolus has shown a lower anthropogenic intake with an average value of 0,03 ± 0,16 anthropogenic/individual particles and a rate of occurrence of 2.56 %. The maximum particles found in a single copy have been 11 anthropogenic particles, in a Engraulis encrasicolus stomach. Considering both areas of study, differences in the intake of anthropogenic particulate matter between these areas can be observed: 36.43 % of the analysed fish on the Spanish mainland intake of anthropogenic particles with an average value of 0,88 ± 1,72 anthropogenic/individual particles, while 12.31 % of the individuals sampled in the Balearic Islands have an average value of 0,20 ± 0,62 anthropogenic/individual. In both study areas, T. mediterraneus is the species with the highest percentages of intake: 44.16 % of the T. mediterraneus of the Peninsula, with an average value of 1,22 ± 2,08 anthropogenic/individual particles and 30 % of copies in the Balearic Islands with average values of 0,40 ± 0,70 anthropogenic/individual particles. By contrast, no intake of anthropogenic particles into species of E. encrasicolus in the Balearic Islands has been observed and only an average value of 0,07 ± 0,26 anthropogenic/individual particles has been detected in a specimen of E. encrasicolus. Conclusions cannot be drawn as to the spatial and temporal trends and the scope of the BEA.

Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The bags of the purchase (or of recognisable pieces thereof) show a clear trend growth. moreover, the plastic parts that are not identifiable between 2,5 and 50 cm and the chips, packets, cheerías and ice creams have shown a downward trend and are likely to be gradually decreasing. the articles whose series do not show a clear trend can be regarded as not increasing and are similar to a stable result, are pieces of non-identifiable plastic between 0 cm and 2.5 cm, colliters with plastic products or their plastic fragments, other ceramic articles or articles of plastics, synthetic foams, metal caps and articles of paper or paperboard.

Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The bags of the purchase (or of recognisable pieces thereof) show a clear trend growth. moreover, the plastic parts that are not identifiable between 2,5 and 50 cm and the chips, packets, cheerías and ice creams have shown a downward trend and are likely to be gradually decreasing. the articles whose series do not show a clear trend can be regarded as not increasing and are similar to a stable result, are pieces of non-identifiable plastic between 0 cm and 2.5 cm, colliters with plastic products or their plastic fragments, other ceramic articles or articles of plastics, synthetic foams, metal caps and articles of paper or paperboard.

Marine litter (excluding microlitter), classified by category of object, is evaluated under D10C1. See section on evaluation results at this criterion. The bags of the purchase (or of recognisable pieces thereof) show a clear trend growth. moreover, the plastic parts that are not identifiable between 2,5 and 50 cm and the chips, packets, cheerías and ice creams have shown a downward trend and are likely to be gradually decreasing. the articles whose series do not show a clear trend can be regarded as not increasing and are similar to a stable result, are pieces of non-identifiable plastic between 0 cm and 2.5 cm, colliters with plastic products or their plastic fragments, other ceramic articles or articles of plastics, synthetic foams, metal caps and articles of paper or paperboard.

2,47 ± 0,23 microplastics/individual) (p < 0,01). Conclusions cannot be drawn as to the spatial and temporal trends and the scope of the BEA.

Through the INDIILC project (https://indicit-europa.eu/), in which Spain participates, data on the ingestion of marine litter by the Caretta caretta species in the Western Mediterranean sub-region have been analysed for the first time, applying the Marine Strategy Framework Directive approach. The waste has been quantified and catalogued by 155 specimens from the Southern head of Tortuga (Caretta caretta), harvested in the waters of the western Mediterranean (north-east Spain), for the period 1995-2016. The contents of the intestines of 155 bologgerhead turtles were examined for the purpose of checking and analysing the food waste. The individuals were harvested dead by the stranding network of the Comunidad Valenciana between 1995 and 2016. The sea turtles were mixed (68) or caught accidentally by trawl, longline or small-scale fishing nets, mainly gill nets (87), operating in the region. a total of 4423 items of waste were collected in 10 of the 15 subcategories in 121 (78.1 %), with a total dry weight of 406.9 g and a total wet volume of 930.3 ml. The most frequent ones are plastic, and organic non-food residues (69.0 % and 60.9 % respectively). There is a high frequency in the presence of marine litter in the digestive contents of young loggerhead turtles located in the western Mediterranean. In any event, the quantities ingested by this species are low and do not seem to pose a significant threat to the survival of the populations in the region. The data obtained do not make it possible to conclude whether the BEA is reached.

Analysis of the stomach contents of Galeus melastomus (125 individuals) for the identification of microplastics under a binocular microscope. Sampling between February 2015 and May 2015. Measured parameters: Abundance of ingested microplastic (number of micropalace/individual and number of microplastics/individual fresh weight), colour, type and polymers that make up microplastics. The length, fresh weight and sex of Galeus melastomus. 18.18 % of the individuals sampled in Soller used microplastics with an average value of 0.32 ± 0.11 MPs/individual, while in Palma 16.05 % of the individuals analysed presented an intake of microplastics with an average value of 0.35 ± 0.10 MPs/ind. In both towns, the maximum value of microplastics observed in one individual was 4 microplastics. No significant correlation between size of individuals and number of microplastics ingested by individual (r

Sampling during the IBERANMULLUS 2014 campaign on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, Barcelona (36 individuals), Cartagena (36 individuals) and the Balearic Islands Ciutadella (10 individuals) and Mahón (10 individuals). Analysis of the stomach contents of Mullus barbatus (92 individuals) for the identification of microplastics under a binocular microscope. Measured parameters: Abundance of ingested microplastic (number of microplastics/individual), size, colour and form of microplastics. A high variety has been detected between the rates of occurrence of microplastics that are grafted as a result of specimens from the different sampling sites: Barcelona (33 %), Cartagena (11.1 %), Mahón (10 %) and Ciutadella (20 %). The increased abundance of microplastics has been observed in the stomach contents of Mullus barbatus from Barcelona with an average value of 1,75 ± 1,14 microplastics/individual. Considering the fish of Malaga (demarcation of the Strait and Alborán strait), this study has obtained an average value of 1,9 ± 1,29 microplastics/individual for Mullus barbatus in the Mediterranean area. All plastics ingested by the analysed fish are smaller than 5 mm. Conclusions cannot be drawn as to the spatial and temporal trends and the scope of the BEA.

P < 0,05 for trammel net). The vast majority of the identified microplastics were filament (97 %) and in relation to the characterisation of polymers with Infratrojo’s spectroscopy techniques with Transformed of Fourier (FTIR), PET (36.36 %) followed by cellophane (30.30 %) and polyacrylate (15.15 %) were the most common polymers of the identified microplastics. A total of nine colours were counted in the identified microplastics, the most common being blue (30.30 %) followed by black (27.27 %) and transparent (21.21 %). Conclusions cannot be drawn as to the spatial and temporal trends and the scope of the BEA.

Total length, weight, maturity status of species (Sardina pilchardus and Engraulis encrasicolus)