Marine litter distribution and density in European seas, from the shelves to deep basins.
Anthropogenic litter is present in all marine habitats, from beaches to the most remote points in the oceans. On the seafloor, marine litter, particularly plastic, can accumulate in high densities with deleterious consequences for its inhabitants. Yet, because of the high cost involved with sampling the seafloor, no large-scale assessment of distribution patterns was available to date. Here, we present data on litter distribution and density collected during 588 video and trawl surveys across 32 sites in European waters. We found litter to be present in the deepest areas and at locations as remote from land as the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The highest litter density occurs in submarine canyons, whilst the lowest density can be found on continental shelves and on ocean ridges. Plastic was the most prevalent litter item found on the seafloor. Litter from fishing activities (derelict fishing lines and nets) was particularly common on seamounts, banks, mounds and ocean ridges. Our results highlight the extent of the problem and the need for action to prevent increasing accumulation of litter in marine environments.
Center of the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) and Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal; Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Christopher K
CK
Pham
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Marine Biology section, Oslo, Norway.
Eva
E
Ramirez-Llodra
Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Claudia H S
CH
Alt
Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Bergen, Norway.
Teresa
T
Amaro
Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven, Germany.
Melanie
M
Bergmann
GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain.
Miquel
M
Canals
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Joan B
JB
Company
Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Jaime
J
Davies
Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands.
Gerard
G
Duineveld
Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), Bastia, France.
François
F
Galgani
Marine Biology & Ecology Research Centre, Marine Institute, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
Kerry L
KL
Howell
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Veerle A I
VA
Huvenne
Center of the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) and Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal; Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Eduardo
E
Isidro
National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Daniel O B
DO
Jones
GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain.
Galderic
G
Lastras
Center of the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) and Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal; Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal.
Telmo
T
Morato
Center of the Institute of Marine Research (IMAR) and Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores, Horta, Portugal; Laboratory of Robotics and Systems in Engineering and Science (LARSyS), Lisbon, Portugal.
José Nuno
JN
Gomes-Pereira
OceanLab, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
Autun
A
Purser
British Geological Survey, Murchison House, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Heather
H
Stewart
Portuguese Task Group for the Extension of the Continental Shelf (EMEPC), Paço de Arcos, Portugal.
Inês
I
Tojeira
GRC Geociències Marines, Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain.
Xavier
X
Tubau
Renard Centre of Marine Geology (RCMG), Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium.
David
D
Van Rooij
Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom.
Paul A
PA
Tyler
D005060:Europe; D012623:Seawater; D014873:Water Pollutants
D014873:Water Pollutants