title: Protected areas in the Atlantic facing the hazards of micro-plastic pollution: first diagnosis of three islands in the Canary Current.
abstract: Coastal zones and the biosphere as a whole show signs of cumulative degradation due to the use and disposal of plastics. To better understand the manifestation of plastic pollution in the Atlantic Ocean, we partnered with local communities to determine the concentrations of micro-plastics in 125 beaches on three islands in the Canary Current: Lanzarote, La Graciosa, and Fuerteventura. We found that, in spite of being located in highly-protected natural areas, all beaches in our study area are exceedingly vulnerable to micro-plastic pollution, with pollution levels reaching concentrations greater than 100 g of plastic in 1l of sediment. This paper contributes to ongoing efforts to develop solutions to plastic pollution by addressing the questions: (i) Where does this pollution come from?; (ii) How much plastic pollution is in the world's oceans and coastal zones?; (iii) What are the consequences for the biosphere?; and (iv) What are possible solutions?
authors.affiliation: Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: jbaztan@marine-sciences-for-society.org.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baztan
authors.affiliation: Observatorio Reserva de Biosfera, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Fred Olsen s/n, 35500 Arrecife, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chouinard
authors.affiliation: Maison des Minéraux, Rue Cap de la Chèvre, 29160 Crozon, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cleaud
authors.affiliation: Dynamical Systems, Gurb 17, 08500 Vic, Spain; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gabaldon
authors.affiliation: UBO-CNRS-LPO, UFR Sciences F308, 6 av. Le Gorgeu, 29238 Brest, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huck
authors.affiliation: Le Théâtre du Grain, Le Maquis, 12 Rue Victor Eusen, 29200 Brest, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaffrès
authors.affiliation: The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, United States; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.affiliation: Observatorio Reserva de Biosfera, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Fred Olsen s/n, 35500 Arrecife, Spain.
authors.forename: Aquilino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miguelez
authors.affiliation: IUEM-CNRS-LEMAR, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paillard
authors.affiliation: Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 11 boulevard d'Alembert, 78280 Guyancourt, France; Marine Sciences For Society, Hurtado 7, 08023 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vanderlinden
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D013030:Spain; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Atlantic Ocean; Fuerteventura; Lanzarote; Plastic; Pollution; Solutions