GESOther: OSPAR Beach litter monitoring, fits in with indicator 10.1.1

GESOther: OSPAR EcoQO on litter in fulmar stomachs

GESOther: OSPAR EcoQO on litter in fulmar stomachs, fits in with indicator 10.2.1

LevelPressureShore

LevelPressureWater

LevelPressureSeabed

ImpactPressureWaterColumn

ImpactPressureSeabedHabitats

ImpactPressureFunctionalGroup

LitterShores10_1

LitterWaterColumnSurface10_1

LitterSeabed10_1

LitterWaterColumnHabitats10_2

LitterSeabedHabitats10_2

LitterFunctionalGroups10_2

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

There should be less than 10% of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) having more than 0.1 g plastic particles in the stomach

There should be less than 10% of northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) having more than 0.1 g plastic particles in the stomach

OtherStatus

OtherStatus

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

NotAssessed

OtherStatus

Stable

Stable

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Stable

Moderate

Moderate

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

NotRelevant

Moderate

Beach litter monitoring program is carried out, but no targets/thresholds are available to assess status.

OSPAR EcoQO on litter in fulmar stomachs. Status is not yet met

OSPAR EcoQO on litter in fulmar stomachs: exceeds target level

Monitoring of numbers of waste items on beaches has been standardized by OSPAR, but strong local variability and analytical problems have so far hampered the gathering of appropriate statistics and the identification of target values for acceptable quality.

No direct information is available as to the amount or composition of litter on the sea surface or in the water column in the Dutch sector. Data on litter on the seabed are fragmentary and have not been developed as a monitoring tool.

No direct information is available as to the amount or composition of litter on the sea surface or in the water column in the Dutch sector. Data on litter on the seabed are fragmentary and have not been developed as a monitoring tool.

The OSPAR method is used to inventory what washes ashore and what is left behind. This practice started in 2002 by taking a record of all litter over a distance of 100 metres between the waterline and the foot of the dunes on four reference beaches: Bergen, Noordwijk, Veere, Terschelling. Between 2002 and 2009, no significant change in the quantity of waste was measured; On average, 250 to 500 items of litter are found on a 100-metre stretch of beach. This is below the OSPAR target average for beaches of the Southern North Sea, which has been set at 700 items of litter, of which an average of 75% comprises plastics.

The Fulmar study is the method used to measure the nature and scope of litter on the North Sea: northern fulmars (Fulmar glacialis) only forage at sea. Analysis of the stomach contents of dead birds provides an indication of the quantity of (small) litter floating on the sea and how much the fulmars ingest. In the period between 2005 and 2009, plastic was found in the stomachs of 90% of the northern fulmars examined throughout the North Sea. The target level of OSPAR's Ecological Quality Objective (EcoQO) is that no more than 10% of the fulmars have more than 0.1 grams of plastic in their stomachs. That target is exceeded in the North Sea. The value measured near the Scottish islands was 48% and in the English Channel zone it was 78%. Of the birds that wash ashore in the Netherlands, an average of 58% has more plastic in their stomach than the target value. The proximity of sources of waste and the prevailing directions of the wind and currents have a major impact on the presence of litter. Moreover, it spreads easily. As a result, no clearly discernible trends have been observed at the measuring locations. In addition, there is no scientific measuring protocol or data series for litter in the water column and on the seabed.

The 'Fishing for Litter' initiative provides information on waste picked up from the seabed in the Netherlands and Belgium by fishermen participating in the scheme. In 2010, 94 fishing boats brought in a total of 442 tonnes of waste. The percentage of plastic objects fished out of the sea is lower than the percentage of plastic objects found on the beaches. This can be explained by the fact that plastic is light and can wash ashore easily. The proximity of sources of waste and the prevailing directions of the wind and currents have a major impact on the presence of litter. Moreover, it spreads easily. As a result, no clearly discernible trends have been observed at the measuring locations. In addition, there is no scientific measuring protocol or data series for litter in the water column and on the seabed.

Moderate

Non related GES component

Non related GES component

Non related GES component

Non related GES component

Non related GES component

Stable

Stable

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Unknown_NotAssessed

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

Shipping and fisheries are the main sources on the North Sea. Sources on land include: beach recreation, supply from rivers and other, diffuse sources. The monitoring data of litter on the beach suggests that 44% of waste comes from shipping and fisheries, 30% from sources on land, and 26% from unknown (or multiple) sources. The Fulmar study also indicates that fisheries and shipping are the main sources of litter in the sea.

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

• "Shipping & floating structures (all vessels
• Industry
• Wild fisheries

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.

Due to a lack of knowledge and reliable research methods, it is difficult to get a complete picture of the trends and consequences of litter in the marine environment. That also makes it difficult to determine good environmental status with no damage to the marine environment. The recommendation of the EU Technical Subgroup Marine Litter provides examples of possible research and monitoring methods to which every Member State can join up.226 The main knowledge gaps are: - There is no research protocol and data series for litter in the water column. - There is no research protocol and data series for litter on the seabed. The expectation is that the existing International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) can be extended to enable research into litter on the seabed. - There is no research protocol and data series for microplastics in the marine environment. - There is a lack of knowledge about the consequences of litter and plastics for marine organisms and ecosystems. In the Netherlands a research has started into the contribution of rivers to the litter problem.