UNEP/IOC Guidelines on Survey and Monitoring of Marine Litter.

Abstract

Globally our awareness of both the pervasiveness and magnitude of marine litter and the associated environmental and social problems is growing (Ribic et al. 1992, ANZECC 1996a, GESAMP 2001, Kiessling 2003, Cho 2005, UNEP 2005, OSPAR 2006, HELCOM 2007). This growth in knowledge is being paralleled by a concomitant increase in the number and scope of national and international marine litter investigations and assessment programmes. The objectives underpinning these litter assessment programmes are quite diverse with groups/organizations variously targeting increased public awareness, better understanding of the risks and impacts of litter, more understanding of litter sources and sinks to support improved management and not the least, cleaner waterways and beaches at local, regional, national and international scales. This variety in the purpose of assessment programmes is matched by the diversity in the operational structure of those programmes. Regardless of the underpinning motivation, marine litter investigations will generally fall into one of three basic types: 1) Beach litter surveys. 2) Benthic litter surveys, which include: a) Observations made by divers, submersibles or camera tows. b) Collection of litter via benthic trawls. 3) Floating litter surveys, which include: a) Observations made from ship or aerial based platforms. b) Collection of litter via surface trawls. Ultimately, to effectively manage and thereby mitigate the impacts from marine litter, there is a ne…