title: A comparative study of marine litter on the seafloor of coastal areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas.
abstract: In the present work, abundance, spatial distribution and qualitative composition, of benthic marine litter, were investigated in five study areas from the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas (Saronikos, Patras and Echinades Gulfs; Limassol Gulf; Constanta Bay). Surveys were performed using the monitoring protocol proposed by the Technical Group for Marine Litter. Densities ranged from 24items/km(2) to 1211items/km(2), with the Saronikos Gulf being the most affected area. Plastics were predominant in all study areas ranging from 45.2% to 95%. Metals and Glass/Ceramics reached maximum values of 21.9% and of 22.4%. The size distribution of litter items showed that ⩾50% fall into medium size categories (10×10cm, 20×20cm) along with an elevated percentage of small-sized (<5×5cm) plastic litter items. The comparative analysis of the data highlighted the dependence of the marine litter problem on many local factors (human sources and oceanographic conditions) and the urgent need for specific actions.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece; Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece. Electronic address: cioakeim@hcmr.gr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ioakeimidis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeri
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaberi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa" Constanta Romania, Blvd Mamaia No. 300, Constanta 3, RO-900581, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galatchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Marine Environmental Division, 1416 Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antoniadis
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Streftaris
authors.affiliation: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, LER/PAC/Corse, Imm. Agostini, ZI Furiani, 20600 Bastia, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galgani
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 19013 Anavyssos, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papathanassiou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papatheodorou
mesh_terms: D059038:Black Sea; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products
keywords: Benthic; Black Sea; Eastern Mediterranean; Litter; Pollution